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••"-  liWH"! 


(JOVKKNOK    Al.KX    RaMHKV,    OF    St.    PAUL, 
The  Last  of  the  War  (iovenors. 


A  THRILLING  NARRATIVE 


OF 


HE  MINNESOTA  MASSACRE 


A  XI)   TMi: 


SIOUX  WAR  OF  1862-63 


GRAPHIC    ACCOUXTS   OF   THE 


SIEGE   OF  FORT  RTDGELY,  BATTLES  OF  BIRCH  COOLIE,  WOOD 

LAKE,  BIO  MOUND,  STONY  LAKE,  DEAD  BUFFALO 

LAKE  AND  MISSOURI  RIVER. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


CHICAGO: 
A.  P.  CONNOLLY.  Publisher. 
I'AST  COMMANDEU  V.  S.  GHANT  POST,  No.  18,  G.  A.  U. 
i)Kl'AUTMKNT  OK  ILLINOIS. 


Copyright,  1896,  by 

A.  P.  CONNOLLY, 

CHICAGO. 


OONOHUE  «   HENNEBtRRV,    pR,N .  ers  *nO   B.NLER8,   CH.CAOO. 


DEniCATlON. 


Thirty-four  years  ago  and  Minnesota  was  in  an  unusual 
state  of  excitement.  Tlie  great  Waj  of  the  RebelUon  was 
on  and  many  of  her  sons  were  in  the  Union  army  "at  the 
front."  In  addition,  the  Sioux  Indian  outbreak  occurred 
and  troops  were  hurriedly  sent  to  the  frontier.  Company 
A,  Sixth  Minnesota  Infantry,  and  detachments  from 
other  companies  were  sent  out  to  bury  the  victims  of  the 
Indians.  This  duty  performed,  they  rested  from  their  la- 
bors and  in  an  unguarded  hour,  they,  too,  were  surrounded 
by  the  victorious  Indians  and  suffered  greatly  in  killed 
and  wounded  at  Birch  Coolie,  Minnesota,  on  September  2 
and  3,  1862.  The  men  who  gave  up  their  lives  at  this  his- 
toric place,  have  been  remembered  by  the  state  in  the  erec- 
tion of  a  beautiful  monument  to  their  memory  and  the 
names  inscribed  thereon  are  as  follows: 

John  College,  sergeant,  Company  A,  Sixth  Minnesota. 
Wm.  Irvine,  sergeant,  Company  A,  Sixth  Minnesota. 
Wm.  M.  Cobb,  corporal,  Company  A,  Sixth  Minnesota. 
Cornelius  Coyle,  private,  Ccnpany  A,  Sixth  Minnesota. 
George  Coulter,  private,  Company  A,  Sixth  Minnesota. 
Chauncey  L.  King,  private,  Company  A,  Sixth  Minnesota. 
Henry  RoUeau,  private,  Company  A,  Sixth  Minnesota. 
Wm.  Russell,  private,  Company  A,  Sixth  Minnesota. 
Henry  Whetsler,  private,  Company  A,  Sixth  Minnesota. 
Benj.  S.  Terry,  sergeant,  Company  G,  Sixth  Minnesota. 
F.  C.  W.  Renneken,  corporal,  Company  G,  Sixth  Minnesota. 
Robert  Baxter,  sergeant.  Mounted  Rangers. 
Richard  Gibbons,  corporal.  Mounted  Rangers. 

To  these,  knowing  them  all  personally  and  well,  I  fra- 
ternally and  reverentially  inscribe  this  book. 


>l 


i 

I' 


<il 


INTRODUCTION. 


to 


'We  are  coming,  Father  Abraham,  SIX  HUNDRED 
THOUSAND  MORE!" 

This  was  in  response  to  the  President's  appeal  for  men 
to  go  to  the  front,  and  the  vast  levies  this  called  for  made 
men  turn  pale  and  maidens  tremble. 

The  Union  army  was  being  defeated,  and  its  ranks  de- 
pleted by  disease  and  expiration  of  terms  of  service — the 
enemy  was  victorious  and  defiant,  and  foreign  powers  were 
wavering.  In  England  aristocracy  wanted  a  confederacy — 
the  Commoners  wanted  an  undivided  Union.  The  North 
responded  to  the  appeal,  mothers  gave  up  their  sons,  wives 
their  husbands,  maidens  their  lovers,  and  six  hundred 
thousand  "boys  in  blue"  marched  away. 

In  August,  1862,  I  enlisted  to  serve  Uncle  Sam  for 
''three  years  or  during  the  war."  In  January,  1865,  I  re- 
enlisted  to  serve  another  term;  but  the  happy  termina- 
tion of  the  conflict  made  it  unnecessary.  I  do  not  write 
this  boastingly,  but  proudly.  There  are  periods  in  our 
lives  we  wish  to  emphasize  and  with  me  this  is  the  period 
in  my  life. 

The  years  from  1861  to  1865 — memorable  for  all  time, 
I  look  back  to  now  as  a  dream.  The  echo  of  the  first 
gun  on  Sumter  startled  the  world.  Men  stood  aghast 
and  buckling  on  the  sword  and  shouldering  the  musket 
they  marched  away.  Brave  men  from  the  North  met  brave 
men  from  the  South,  and,  as  the  clash  of  arms  resounded 
throughout  our  once  happy  land,  the  Nations  of  the  World 
with  bated  breath  watched  the  destinies  of  this  Republic. 

After  four  years  of  arbitration  on  many  sanguinary 


:!  I 


I  I 


6 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE^1862. 


fields,  we  decided  at  Appomattox  to  live  in  harmony  un- 
der one  flag.  The  soldiers  are  satisfied — "the  Blue  and 
the  Gray"  have  joined  hands;  but  the  politicians,  or  at 
least  some  of  them,  seem  to  be  unaware  that  the  war  is 
over,  and  still  drag  us  into  the  controversy. 

^^The  Boys  in  Blue?"  Why,  that  was  in  18G6,  and  this  is 
1896-r^thirty  years  after  we  liad  fulfilled  our  contract  and 
turned  over  the  goods;  and  was  ever  work  better  done? 

Then  we  could  have  anything  we  wanted;  now  we  are 
''Old  Soldiers"  and  it  is  16  to  1  against  ui  when  there  ia 
work  to  do.  A  new  generation  has  arisen,  and  the  men 
of  1861  to  1865  are  out  of  ''the  swim/'  unless  their  vote  is 
wanted.  We  generally  vote  right,  We  were  safe  to  trust 
in  "the  dark  days"  and  we  can  be  trusted  now;  but  Young 
America  is  in  the  front  rank  and  we  mu4t  submit. 

The  eoluer  was  a  queer  "critter**  and  could  adapt  him- 
self :y  circumstance.  He  could  cook,  wash  dishes, 
preach,  ^ray,  fight,  build  bridges,  build  railroads,  scale 
mountains,  dig  wells,  dig  canals,  edit  papers,  eat  three 
square  meals  a  day  or  go  without  and  find  fault;  and  so 
with  this  experience  of  years, — the  eventful  years  of  1861 
and  18G5  before  me,  when  the  door  is  shut  and  I  am  no 
longer  effective  and  cannot  very  well  retire — to  the  poor- 
house,  have  concluded  to  write  a  book.  I  am  not  so  im- 
portant a  character  as  either  Grant,  Sherman,  Sheridan 
or  Logan;  but  I  did  my  share  toward  making  them  great. 
I'll  never  have  a  monument  erected  to  my  memory  unless 
I  pay  for  it  myself;  but  my  conscience  is  clear,  for  I  served 
more  than  three  years  in  Uncle  Sam's  army  and  I  have 
never  regretted  it  and  have  no  apologies  to  make.  I  did 
not  go  for  pa3%  bounty  or  pension,  although  I  got  both 
tlie  former  when  I 'did  enlist  and  am  living  in  the  enjoy- 


m 


MlNKESOn  MASSACkM—mt 


1 


mcnt  of  the  latter  now.  I  would  not  like  to  say  how 
much  my  pension  is,  but  it  is  not  one  hundred  a  month 
by  "a  large  majority" — and  so,  1  have  concluded,  upon 
tlie  whole,  to  i)roiit  by  a  i)ortion  of  my  experience  in  the 
great  "Sioux  War"  in  Minnesota  and  Dakota  in  18(15?  (for 
I  campaigned  both  North  and  South)  and  write  a  book 
and  thus  "stand  off"  the  wolf  in  my  old  age. 

When  peace  was  declared,  the  great  armies  were  ordered 
home  and  the  "Boys  in  Blue"  became  citizens  again.  The 
majority  of  us  have  passed  over  the  hill-top  and  are  going 
down  the  western  slope  of  life,  leaving  our  comrades  by 
the  wayside.  In  a  few  years  more  there  will  be  but  a 
corporal's  guard  left  and  "the  place  that  knows  us  now 
will  know  us  no  more  forever."  The  poor-house  will 
catch  some  and  the  Soldiers'  Home  others;  but  the  bread 
of  charity  can  never  be  so  sweet  and  palatable  as  is  that 
derived  from  one's  own  earnings, — hence  this  little  book 
of  personal  experiences  and  exciting  events  of  these  excit- 
ing years — 1862  and  1863.  In  it  I  deal  in  facts  and  per- 
sonal experiences,  and  the  experiences  of  others  who  passed 
through  the  trying  ordeal,  as  narrated  to  me.  As  one 
grows  old,  memory  in  some  sense  is  unreliable.  It  can- 
not hold  on  as  it  once  did.  The  recollection  of  the 
incidents  of  youth  remains,  while  the  more  recent  occur- 
rences have  often  but  a  slender  hold  on  our  memories; — 
error  often  creeps  in  touching  dates,  but  the  recollections 
of  August,  1862,  and  the  months  that  followed,  are  indeed 
vivid;  the  impress  is  so  indelibly  graven  on  our  memories 
that  time  has  not  effaced  them. 

The  characters  spoken  of  I  knew  personally,  some  for 
years;  the  locations  were  familiar  to  me,  the  buildings, 
homely  as  they  appear,  are  correct  in  size  and  in  style 


d 


MINNESOTA  MA^SACl^E^lse^, 


of  architecture  and  some  of  them  I  helped  to  build  The 
narrative  is  as  1  would  relate  to  you,  were  we  at  one  of 
our  "(  an.],  Fires."  It  is  turnin^^  back  the  pages  of  mem- 
ory, l)ut  111  the  mental  review  it  seems  but  vesterday  that 
the  sad  events  occurred. 

A.  P.  CONNOLLY. 


Yours  tmily, 


CHAITER  I. 


GENERAL  REMARKS— DEATH  OP  DR.  WEISER. 


Historians  have  written,  orators  have  spoken  and  poets 
have  sung  of  the  heroism  and  bravei  y  of  the  great  Union 
army  and  navy  that  from  1861  to  18G5  followed  the 
leadership  of  Grant,  Sherman,  Sheridan,  Logan,  Thomas, 
McPherson,  Farragut  and  Porter  from  Bull  Run  to  Ap- 
pomattox, and  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea;  and  after  their 
work  was  done  and  well  done,  returned  to  their  homes  to 
receive  the  plaudits  of  a  grateful  country. 

More  than  thirty  years  have  elapsed  since  these  trying, 
melancholy  times.  The  question  that  then  called  the 
volunteer  army  into  existence  has  been  settled,  and  the 
great  commanders  have  gone  to  their  rewards.  We  bow 
our  heads  in  submission  to  the  mandate  of  the  King  of 
Kings,  as  with  sorrow  and  pleasure  we  read  the  grateful 
tributes  paid  to  the  memories  of  the  heroes  on  land  and 
on  sea, — the  names  made  illustrious  by  valorous  achieve- 
ments, and  that  have  become  household  words,  engraven 
on  our  memories;  and  w^e  think  of  them  as  comrades  who 
await  us  "on  fame's  eternal  camping  ground." 

Since  the  war,  other  questions  have  arisen  to  claim  our 

attention,  and  this  book  treats  of   another  momentous 

theme.     The  Indian  question  has  often,  indeed  too  often, 

been  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  the  people.    We  have 

had  the  World's  Fair,  the  Four  Hundredth  Anniversary 

of  the  discovery  of  America,  the  recollection  of  which  is 

still  fresh  in  our  memories.     Now  we  have  politics  and 

11 


12 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1S62. 


doubtless  have  passed  through  one  of  the  most  exciting 
poUtical  campaigns  of  our  day  and  generation;  but,  let  us 
take  a  retrospective  view,  and  go  back  thirty  years;  look 
at  some  of  the  causes  leading  up  to  the  Indian  war  of 
1862;  make  a  campaign  with  me  as  we  march  over  twelve 
hundred  miles  into  an  almost  unknown  land  and  defeat 
the  Indians  in  several  sanguinary  battles,  liberate  four 
hundred  captive  women  and  children,  try,  convict  and 
hang  thirty-nine  Indians  for  participating  in  the  murder 
of  thousands  of  unsuspecting  white  settlers,  and  if,  upon 
our  return,  you  are  not  satisfied,  I  hope  you  will  in  the 
kindness  of  your  heart  forgive  me  for  taking  you  on  this 
(at  the  time)  perilous  journey. 

I  will  say  to  my  comrades  who  campaigned  solely  in  the 
South,  that  my  experience,  both  North  and  South,  leads 
me  to  believe  there  is  no  comparison.  In  the  South  we 
fought  foemen  worthy  of  our  steel, — soldiers  who  were 
manly  enough  to  acknowledge  defeat,  and  magnanimous 
enough  to  respect  the  defeat  of  their  opponents.  Not  so 
with  the  redskins.  Their  tactics  were  of  the  skulking  kind; 
their  object  scalps,  and  not  glory.  They  never  acknowl- 
edged defeat,  had  no  respect  for  a  fallen  foe,  and  gratified 
their  natural  propensity  for  blood.  Meeting  them  in  bat- 
tle there  was  but  one  choice, — fight,  and  one  result  only, 
if  unsuccessful, — certain  death.  They  knew  what  the 
flag  of  truce  meant  (cessation  of  hostilities),  but  had  not 
a  proper  respect  for  it.  They  felt  safe  in  coming  to  us 
with  this  time-honored  symbol  of  protection,  because  they 
knew  we  would  respect  it.  We  did  not  feel  safe  in  going 
to  them  under  like  circumstances,  because  there  were  those 
among  them  who  smothered  every  honorable  impulse  to 
gratify  a  spirit  of  revenge  and  hatred.     As  an  illustra- 


MilfNESOTA  MASSACRE— 186^. 


13 


tion  of  this  I  will  state,  that  just  after  the  battle  of  the 
Big  Mound  in  1863,  we  met  a  delegation  of  Indians  with  a 
flag  of  truce,  and  while  the  interpreter  was  talking  to  them 
and  telling  them  what  the  General  desired,  and  some  sol- 
diers w^ere  giving  tliem  tobacco  and  crackers,  Dr.  Weiser, 
surgeon  of  the  Second  Minnesota  Cavalry,  having  on  his 
full  uniform  as  major,  tempted  a  villainous  fellow,  who 
thinking,  from  the  uniform,  that  it  was  General  Sibley, 
our  commander,  jumped  up,  and  before  his  intention  could 
be  understood,  shot  him  through  the  back,  killing  him  in- 
stantly. Treachery  of  this  stamp  does  not  of  course  apply 
to  all  the  members  of  all  tribes  and  benighted  people;  for 
I  suppose  even  in  the  jungles  of  Africa,  where  tribes  of 
black  men  live  who  have  never  heard  of  a  white  man,  we 
could  find  some  endowed  with  human  instincts,  who  would 
protect  those  whom  the  fortunes  of  war  or  exploration 
might  cast  among  them.  We  found  some  Indians  who 
were  exceptions  to  the  alleged  general  rule — cruel.  The 
battles  we  fought  w^ere  fierce,  escapes  miraculous,  per- 
sonal experiences  wonderful  and  the  liberation  of  the  cap- 
ties  a  bright  chapter  in  the  history  of  events  in  this  excit- 
ing year. 


14 


MIMESOTA  MAiiSACnk^i862. 


CHAPTER  II. 


ST.  PAUL  AND  MINNEAPOLIS  IN  1836  AND  1896— FATHER 

HENNEPIN. 


■  I 


As  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  is  our  starting  point,  we  will 
pause  for  a  little  and  cultivate  the  acquaintance  of  her 
people.  The  picture  represents  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis 
about  as  we  suppose  they  were  previous  to  1838,  and  before 
a  white  man  gazed  upon  the  natural  beauties  of  our  great 
country.  In  the  picture  you  see  "one  of  the  first  families," 
in  fact  it  is  the  first  family,  and  a  healthy,  dirty-looking 
lot  they  are.  They  had  evidently  heard  that  a  stranger 
had  "come  to  town"  and  the  neighbors  came  in  to  lend  a 
hand  in  "receiving"  the  distinguished  guest.  The  In- 
dian kid  on  the  left  hand,  with  his  hair  a  la  Paderewski, 
was  probably  playing  marbles  with  young  Dirty-Face- 
Afraid-of-Soap-and-Water  in  the  back  yard,  when  his 
mother  whooped  for  him  to  come.  He  looks  mad  about 
it.  They  all  have  on  their  Sunday  clothes  and  are  specu- 
lating as  to  whether  it  is  best  to  get  acquainted  with  the 
forerunner  of  civilization  or  not.  Their  liberties  had  nev- 
er been  abridged.  The  Indians  came  and  went  at  will, 
never  dreaming  that  the  day  was  approaching  when  civili- 
zation would  force  them  to  "move  on."  As  early  as  1819 
white  people  were  in  Minnesota,  'tis  true,  but  this  was 
when  Fort  St.  Anthony  was  first  garrisoned. 


o 

O 

H 

H 


H 


00 


O 

CO 

H 

f 

M 

54 


00 

CO 


:ii!. 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


17 


Anterior  to  this,  however,  a  zealous  Franciscan  priest, 
Father  Hennepin,  ascended  the  Mississippi,  bv  oar.  im- 
pelled on  by  its  beautiful  scenery,  and  in  August,  1()80, 
he  stood  upon  the  brink  of  the  river  near  where  Fort 
Suelling  now  is,  and  erected  the  cross  of  his  church  and 
probably  was  the  first  to  proclaim  to  the  red  man  the  glad 
tidings  of  "Peace  on  earth,  good  will  to  man."  He  pointed 
them  to  the  cross  as  the  emblem  of  liberty  from  supersti- 
tion, but  they  in  their  ignorance  did  not  heed  his  peaceful 
coming,  but  made  him  their  captive,  holding  him  thus 
for  six  months,  during  which  time  lie  so  completely  gained 
their  confidence  as  to  cause  them  to  liberate  him,  and  his 
name  is  still  remembered  reverentially  by  them. 

Father  Hennepin  named  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  after 
his  patron  saint,  and  was  the  first  white  man  to  look  upon 
its  beauties  and  listen  to  the  music  of  Minnehaha,  as  her 
crystal  water  rolled  over  the  cliffs  and  went  rippling 
through  the  grasses  and  flowers  on  its  merry  way  to  the 
bosom  of  the  "Father  of  Waters." 

Minnehaha,  beautiful  in  sunshine  and  in  shadow;  in 
rain-shower  and  in  snow-storm — for  ages  has  your  laughter 
greeted  the  ear  of  the  ardent  Indian  lover.  Here  Hiawatha, 
outstripping  all  competitors  in  his  love-race,  wooed  his 
Minnehaha  and  in  triumph  carried  her  away  to  his  far-off 
Ojibway  home.  The  Indians  loved  this  spot  and  as  they 
camped  upon  its  banks  and  smoked  the  peace  pipe  "as  a 
signal  to  the  nations,"  dreamed  only  of  peace  and  plenty. 
The  Great  Spirit  was  good  to  them;  but  the  evil  day  was 
approaching,  invisible  yet,  then  a  speck  on  the  horizon, 
but  the  cloud  grew  and  the  "pale  face"  was  among  them. 
Sorrowfully  they  bid  farewell  forever  to  their  beautiful 
"Laughing  Water." 


18 


MlNNEHiOTA  MASlSACRE—1862. 


m\ 


In  these  early  days  it  was  almost  beyond  the  compre- 
hension of  man  that  two  populous  cities  should  spring  up 
as  have  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis,  and  Pierre  Parrant,  the 
first  settler  at  St.  Paul,  httle  dreamed  that  the  "Twin 
Cities,"  with  a  population  variously  estimated  at  from 
200,000  to  225,000,  would  greet  the  eye  of  the  astonished 
beholder  in  1890.  They  sprang  into  existence  and  grew 
apace;  they  met  with  reverses,  as  all  cities  do,  but  the  in- 
domitable energy  of  the  men  who  started  out  to  carve  for 
themselves  a  fortune,  achieved  their  end,  and  their  chil- 
dren are  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  labor. 

There  is  no  city  in  America  that  can  boast  an  avenue 
equal  to  Summit  avenue  in  St.  Paul,  with  its  many  beauti- 
ful residences  ranging  in  cost  from  $25,000  to  $350,000. 
Notably  among  these  palatial  homes  is  that  of  James  J. 
Hill,  the  railroad  king  of  the  Northwest.  His  is  a  palace 
set  on  a  hill,  built  in  the  old  English  style,  situated  on  an 
eminence  overlooking  the  river  and  the  bluffs  beyond. 
The  groun  Is  without  and  the  art  treasures  within  are 
equal  to  those  of  any  home  in  our  country,  and  such  as  are 
found  only  in  homes  of  culture  where  money  in  plenty  is 
always  at  hand  to  gratify  every  desire. 

The  avenue  winds  along  the  bluff,  and  the  outlook  up 
and  down  the  river  calls  forth  exclamations  of  delight  from 
those  who  can  see  beauty  in  our  natural  American  scenery. 
In  the  springtime,  when  the  trees  are  in  their  fresh  green 
garb,  and  budding  forth,  and  in  the  autumn  when  the  days 
are  hazy  and  short,  when  the  sere  of  months  has  painted 
the  foliage  in  variegated  colors,  and  it  begins  to  fall,  the 
picture  as  unfolded  to  the  beholder  standing  on  the  bluffs 
is  delighting,  enchanting. 

The  urban  and  interurban  facilities  for  transport  from 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862, 


19 


city  to  city  are  the  best  in  the  world,  and  is  the  successful 
result  of  years  of  observation  and  laborious  effort  on  the 
part  of  the  honorable  Thomas  Lowry,  the  street  railway 
magnate;  and  the  many  bridges  spanning  the  "Father 
of  Waters'*  at  either  end  of  the  line  give  evidence  of  the 
abihty  of  the  business  men  of  the  two  cities  to  compass 
anything  within  reason. 

Minneapohs,  the  "flour  city,"  noted  for  its  broad  streets 
and  palatial  homes  nestling  among  the  trees;  its  magnif- 
icent public  library  building  with  its  well-filled  shelves  of 
book  treasures;  its  expensive  and  beautiful  public  build- 
ings and  business  blocks;  its  far-famed  exposition  build- 
ing, and  its  great  cluster  of  mammoth  flouring  mills 
that  astonish  the  world,  are  the  pride  of  every  Minnesotian. 
Even  the  "Father  of  Waters"  laughs  as  he  leaps  over  the 
rocks  and,  winding  in  and  out,  drives  this  world  of  ma- 
chinery that  grinds  up  wheat — not  by  the  car-load,  but  by 
the  train-load,  and — "Pillsbury's  Best" — long  since  a  na- 
tional pride,  has  become  a  familiar  international  brand  be- 
cause it  can  be  found  in  all  the  great  marts  of  the  world. 
What  a  transformation  since  1638!  Father  Hennepin,  no 
doubt,  looks  down  from  the  battlements  of  Heaven  in 
amazement  at  the  change;  and  the  poor  Indians,  who  had 
been  wont  to  roam  about  here,  unhindered,  have  long  since, 
in  sorrow,  fled  away  nearer  to  the  setting  sun;  but  alas! 
he  returned  and  left  the  imprint  of  his  aroused  savage 
nature. 


20 


ML\\\E:S0TA  MAIS^AVRE—lii62, 


CIIAPTKll   III. 


iliili 


A  PATHETIC  CHAPTER— CAPTAIN  CHITTENDEN'S  MIN- 
NEHAHA. 


In  August,  J8G2,  what  do  we  sec?  Homes,  beautiful 
prairie  houies  of  yesterday,  to-day  have  sunken  out  of  sight, 
buried  in  their  own  ashes;  the  wife  of  an  early  love  has 
been  overtaken  and  compelled  to  submit  to  the  unholy 
passion  of  her  cruel  captor;  the  prattling  tongues  of  the 
innocents  have  been  silenced  in  sudden  death,  and  reason 
dethroned.  A  most  pathetic  case  was  that  of  Charles  Nel- 
son, a  Swede.  The  day  previous,  his  dwelling  had  been 
burned  to  the  ground,  his  daughter  outraged,  the  head 
of  his  wife,  Lela,  cleft  by  the  tomahawk,  and  while  seeking 
to  save  himself,  he  saw,  for  a  moment,  his  two  sons,  Hans 
and  Otto,  rushing  through  the  corn-field  with  the  Indians 
in  swift  pursuit.  Returning  with  the  troops  under  Col- 
onel McPhail,  and  passing  by  the  ruins  of  his  home,  he 
gazed  about  him  wildly,  and  closing  the  gate  of  the  gar- 
den, asked:     "When  will  it  be  safe  to  return?"     His  rea- 


son was  gone! 


This  pathetic  scene  witnessed  by  so  many  who  yet  live 
to  remember  it,  was  made  a  chapter  entitled,  "The  Maniac," 
in  a  work  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  Harriet  E.  McConkey, 
published  soon  after  it  occurred- 


I 


DesiKiied  by  A.  P.  Connolly. 

MiNNE-HA-iiA  Falls  Before  the  White  Man  Ever  Saw  It. 


MINN£80TA  MASSACRE^1862, 


23 


Captain  Chittenden,  of  Colonel  McPhail's  command, 
while  sitting  a  few  days  after,  under  the  Falls  of  Minne- 
haha, embodied  in  verse  this  wonderful  tragedy,  giving 
to  the  world  the  following  lines: 

Minne-ha-ha,  laughing  water. 

Cease  thy  laughing  now  for  aye, 
fc^avage  hands  are  red  with  slaughter 

Of  the  innocent  to-day, 

JU  accords  thy  sportive  humor 

With  their  last  despairing  wail; 
While  thou'rt  dancing  in  tne  sunbeami 

Mangled  corpses  strew  the  vale. 

Change  thy  note,  gay  Minne-ha-ha; 

Let  some  sadder  strain  prevail— 
Listen,  while  a  maniac  wanderer 

Sighs  to  thee  his  woeful  tale; 

"Give  me  back  my  Lela's  tresses, 

Let  me  kiss  them  once  again! 
She,  who  blest  me  with  caresses 

Lies  unburied  on  the  plain! 

"See  yon  smoke?  there  was  my  dwelling; 

That  is  all  I  have  of  home! 
Hark!    I  hear  their  fiendish  yelling, 

As  I,  houseless,  childless,  roam! 


"Have  they  killed  my  Hans  and  Otto? 

Did  they  find  them  in  the  corn? 
Go  and  tell  that  savage  monster 

Not  to  slay  my  youngest  born. 

"Yonder  is  my  new-bought  reaper, 
Standing  mid  the  ripened  grain; 


24 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


E'en  my  cow  asks  why  I  leave  her 
Wand'ring,  unmilked,  o'er  the  plain. 

"Soldiers,  bury  here  my  Lela; 

Place  me  also  'neath  the  sod; 
Long  we  lived  and  wrought  together — 

Let  me  die  with  her — 0  God! 

^'Faithful  Fido,  you  they've  left  me, 
Can  you  tell  me,  Fido,  why 

God  at  once  has  thus  bereft  me? 
All  I  ask  is  here  to  die. 

"0,  my  daughter  Jennie,  darling! 
Worse  than  death  is  Jennie's  fate!" 

^c  Hi  Hi  H:  Hi  4:  Hi 

Nelson,  as  our  troops  were  leaving 
Turned  and  shut  his  garden  gate. 


I: 


ill 


? 


n 


»     i? 


R 


2  o 


^gS 


Kl>       1-1 

t  a 

^     CI 

C    W 

o 


a 


w 


(-•    ''9 


» 


S 


Pi 


\fi 


.*^-. 


m- 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 186^. 


27 


CHAPTER   IV. 


ORIGIN  OF  INDIANS— CAPTAIN  CARVER— SITTING  BULL. 


There  is  something  wonderfully  interesting  about  the 
origin  of  the  Indians.  Different  writers  have  different 
theories;  John  Mcintosh,  who  is  an  interesting  and  very 
exhaustive  writer  on  this  subject,  says  they  can  date  their 
origin  back  to  the  time  of  the  flood,  and  that  Magog,  the 
second  son  of  Japhet,  is  the  real  fountain  head.  Our 
North  American  Indians,  however,  were  first  heard  of 
authentically  from  Father  Hennepin,  who  so  early  came 
among  them. 

At  a  later  date,  about  1766,  Jonathan  Carver,  a  British 
subject  and  a  captain  in  the  army,  made  a  visit  of  ad- 
venture to  this  almost  unknown  and  interesting  country. 
The  Sioux  were  then  very  powerful  and  occupied  the  coun- 
try about  St.  Anthony  Falls,  and  wesi  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  south,  taking  in  a  portion  of  what  now  is  the  State 
of  Iowa. 

The  country  to  the  north  and  northeast  was  owned  by 
the  Chippewas.  The  Sioux  then,  as  later,  were  a  very  war- 
like nation,  and  at  the  time  of  Captain  Carver's  advent 
among  them  were  at  war  with  the  Chippewas,  their  hated 
foes.     Captain   Carver   came   among  them   as  a  peace- 


m 


2ii 


MINNESOTA  MA&SACRE—lse^. 


maker;  his  diplomacy  and  genial  spirit  prevailed,  and  the 
hatchet  was  buried.  For  these  good  offices,  the  Indians 
ceded  to  him  a  large  tract  of  land,  extending  from  the 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony  to  the  foot  of  Lake  Pipin;  thence 
east  one  hundred  miles;  thence  north  and  west  to  the  place 
of  beginning — a  most  magnificent  domain,  truly,  and 
which  in  Europe  would  call  for  nothing  less  than  a  king 
to  supervise  its  destinies. 

A  writer,  Hon.  W.  S.  Bryant,  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota., 
on  this  subject,  says:  "That  at  a  later  period,  after  Cap- 
tain Carver's  death,  congress  was  petitioned  by  others  than 
his  heirs,  to  confirm  the  Indian  deed,  and  among  the  pa- 
pers produced  in  support  of  the  claim,  was  a  copy  of  an 
instrument  purporting  to  have  been  executed  at  Lake 
Traverse,  on  the  17th  day  of  February,  1821,  by  four 
Indians  who  called  themselves  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the 
Uandowessies — the  Sioux.  They  declare  that  their  fath- 
ers did  grant  to  Captain  Jonathan  Carver  this  vast  tract  of 
land  and  that  there  is  among  their  people  a  traditional 
record  of  the  same.  This  writing  is  signed  by  Ouekien 
Tangah,  Tashachpi  Tainche,  Kache  Noberie  and  Petite 
Corbeau  (Little  Crow)."  This  "Petite"  is  undoubtedly 
the  father  of  Little  Crow,  who  figures  in  this  narrative  as 
the  leader  in  the  massacre. 

Captain  Carver's  claim  has  never  been  recognized,  al- 
though the  instrument  transferring  this  large  tract  of 
land  to  him  by  the  Indians  was  in  existence  and  in  St. 
Paul  less  than  twenty-five  years  ago.  It  has  since  been 
destroyed  and  the  possessors  of  these  valuable  acres  can 
rest  themselves  in  peace. 

In  1862  the  red  man's  ambition  was  inflamed,  and  in 
his  desire  to  repossess  himself  of  his  lost  patrimony,  he 


M 


MINNESOTA  M AS ii ACRE— 1862. 


29 


he 


seeks  redress  of  his  wrongs  in  bloody  war.  Fort  Snelling 
at  the  junction  of  the  Mississippi  and  Minnesota  rivers 
was  the  rallying  point  for  the  soldiers  and  we  produce  a 
j)icture  of  it  as  it  appeared  then  and  give  something  of  its 
history  from  its  first  estabhshment  up  to  date. 

The  great  Sioux  or  Dakotah  nation  at  one  time  em- 
braced the  Uncapapas,  Assinaboines,  Mandans,  Crows, 
Winnebagoes,  Osages,  Kansas,  Kappa ws,  Ottoes,  Mis- 
sourias,  lowas,  Omahas,  Poncas,  Nez  Perces,  Arrickarees, 
Minnetarees,  Arkansas,  Tetons,  Yanktons,  Yanktonais, 
and  the  Pawnees.  It  was  a  most  powerful  nation  and 
under  favorable  conditions  could  withstand  the  encroach- 
ments of  our  modern  civilization.  The  Ahahaways  and 
Unktokas  are  spoken  of  as  two  lost  tribes.  The  Unkto- 
kas  are  said  to  have  lived  in  ''Wiskonsan,"  south  of  the  St. 
Croix  and  were  supposed  to  have  been  destroyed  by  the 
lowas  about  the  commencement  of  the  present  century. 
The  Ahahaways,  a  branch  of  the  Crows,  lived  on  the  Up- 
per Missouri,  but  were  lost — annihilated  by  disease,  natural 
causes  and  war.  The  Uncapapa  tribe  were  from  the  ^lis- 
souri,  and  Sitting  Bull,  whose  picture  appears,  although 
not  an  hereditary  chief,  w^as  a  strong  man  among  them. 
He  was  for  a  time  their  Medicine  Man  and  counselor.  He 
was  shrewd  and  a  forceful  diplomat;  he  was  a  pronounced 
hater  of  the  whites,  and  has  earned  notoriety  throughout 
the  country  as  the  leader  of  five  thousand  warriors,  who 
annihilated  General  Custer  and  his  command  at  the  Little 
Big  Horn  in  1876.  After  the  massacre,  this  huge  Indian 
camp  was  broken  up,  and  Bull,  with  more  than  one  thou- 
sand warriors  retreated  into  the  British  possessions,  from 
whence  he  made  frequent  raids  upon  American  soil.  His 
band  constantly  suffered  depletion  until,  in  the  summer  of 


80 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


1881,  he  had  but  one  hundred  and  sixty  followers  remain- 
ing. These  he  surrendered  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brother- 
ton,  at  Fort  Buford,  and  with  them  was  sent  as  a  pris- 
oner to  Fort  Randall,  Dakota.  He  was  married  four  times, 
and  had  a  large  family.  He  was  not  engaged  in  the  Sioux 
war  of  18G3,  but  being  a  chief  of  that  nation  and  an  im- 
portant Indian  character,  I  introduce  him.  He  has  gone 
to  the  happy  hunting  ground,  some  years  since,  through 
the  treachery  of  the  Indian  police,  who  were  sent  out  tg 
capture  him, 


remaiu- 
Brother- 

a  pris- 
ir  times, 
e  Sioux 

an  im- 
as  gone 
hrough 

out  tq 


Sitting  Bull, 

The  Chief  in  Command  at  the  Custer  Battle  of  the 
Little  Big  Horn  in  1876. 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


n 


CHAPTEll  V. 


FORT  SNELLING. 
FROM  E.  D.  NEILL'S  RECOLLECTIONS. 


On  the  10th  of  February,  1819,  John  (J.  Calhoun,  then 
secretary  of  war,  issued  an  order  for  the  Fifth  regiment  of 
infantry  to  rendezvous  at  Detroit,  preparatory  to  proceed- 
ing to  the  Mississippi  to  garrison  or  establish  military 
posts,  and  the  headquarters  of  the  regiment  was  directed 
to  be  at  the  fort  to  be  located  at  the  mouth  of  the  Minne- 
sota river. 

It  was  not  until  the  17th  of  September  that  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  liCavenworth,  with  a  detachment  of  troops,  reached 
this  point.  A  cantonment  was  first  established  at  New 
Hope,  near  Mendota,  and  not  far  from  the  ferry.  During 
the  winter  of  1819-20,  forty  soldiers  di^d  from  scurvy. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1819,  Colonel  Leavenworth  crossed 
the  river  and  established  a  summer  camp,  but  his  relations 
with  the  Indian  agent  were  not  as  harmonious  as  they 
might  have  been,  and  Colonel  Josiah  Snelling  arrived  and 
relieved  him.  On  the  10th  of  September,  the  corner- 
stone of  Fort  St.  Anthony  was  laid;  the  barracks  at  first 
were  of  logs. 

During  the  summer  of  1820  a  party  of  Sisseton  Sioux 
killed  on  the  Missouri  Isadore  Poupon,  a  half-breed,  and 
Joseph  Andrews,  a  Canadian,  two  men  in  the  employ  of 
the  fur  company.  As  soon  as  the  information  reached 
the  agent.  Major  Taliaferro,  trade  with  the  Sioux  was  in- 
terdicted «Dtii  the  guilty  were  surrendered.    Finding  that 


34 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE^1S62. 


they  were  deprived  of  blankets,  powder  and  tobacco,  a 
council  was  held  at  \^v^  Stone  Ijake,  and  one  of  the  mur- 
derers, and  the  aged  father  of  another,  agreed  to  go  down 
and  surrender  themselves. 

On  the  l/ith  of  November,  escorted  by  friends  and  rela- 
tives, they  approached  the  post.  Halting  for  a  brief 
period,  they  formed  and  marched  in  solemn  procession  lo 
the  center  of  the  parade  ground.  In  the  advance  was  a 
Sisseton,  bearing  a  British  flag;  next  came  the  murderer, 
and  the  old  man  who  had  oll'ered  himself  as  an  atonement 
for  his  son,  their  arms  pinioned,  and  large  wooden  splint- 
ers thrust  through  the  llesh  above  the  elbow,  indicating 
their  contempt  for  pain;  and  in  the  rear  followed  friends 
chanting  the  death-song.  After  burning  the  British  flag 
in  front  of  the  sentinels  of  the  fort,  they  formally  delivered 
the  prisoners.  The  murderer  was  sent  under  guard  to  St. 
Louis,  and  the  old  man  detained  as  a  hostage. 

The  first  white  women  in  JVIinnesota  were  the  wives  of 
the  officers  of  Fort  St.  Anthony.  The  first  steamer  to  ar- 
rive at  the  new  fort  was  the  Virginia,  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Crawford.  The  event  was  so  notable  that  she  was 
greeted  by  a  salute  from  the  fort. 

In  1824,  General  Scott,  on  a  tour  of  inspection,  visited 
Fort  St.  Anthony,  and  suggested  that  the  name  be  changed 
to  Fort  Snelling,  in  honor  of  Colonel  Snelling,  its  first 
commander.  Upon  this  suggestion  of  General  Scott  and 
for  the  reason  assigned,  the  war  department  made  the 
change  and  historic  Fort  Snelling  took  its  place  among 
the  defenses  of  the  nation;  and  from  this  date  up  to 
18G1,  was  garrisoned  by  regulars,  who  were  quartered  here 
to  keep  in  check  the  Indians  who  were  ever  on  the  alert 
for  an  excuse  to  avenge  themselves  on  the  white  settlers. 

In  1861,  and  from  that  to  1866,  the  scene  underwent  a 
wondrous  change,  and  volunteers  instead  of  regulars  be- 
came its  occupants.     All  the  Minnesota  volunteers  ren- 


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MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


m 


»'  \ ; 


ii 


Author's  Note. 

When  visiting  Fort  Snelling  during  the  occasion  of  the 
holding  of  the  National  Encampment  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  in  St.  Paul  in  September,  1896,  I  found  such  a 
change. 

The  old  stone  quarters  for  the  use  of  the  rank  and  file  dur- 
ing the  war  days  were  there,  it  is  true,  but  are  being  used  for 
purposes  other  than  accommodating  the  soldiers.  I  found 
my  old  squad  room,  but  the  old  associations  were  gone  ;  the 
memories  of  the  war  days  crowded  upon  me,  and  I  thought 
of  the  boys  whose  names  and  faces  I  remembered  well,  but 
they  are  dead  and  scattered  over  the  land.  Some  few  were 
there,  and  we  went  over  our  war  history,  and  in  the  recital, 
recalled  the  names  of  our  comrades  who  have  been  finally 
"mustered  out"  and  have  gone  beyond  the  river. 

The  present  commandant  of  the  beautiful  new  fort  is  Col- 
onel John  H.  Page  of  the  Third  United  States  Infantry. 
This  officer  has  been  continuously  in  the  service  since  April, 
1861.  He  was  a  private  in  Company  A,  First  Illinois  Artil- 
lery, and  went  through  all  the  campaigning  of  this  command 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  when  he  received  an  appointment 
in  the  Regular  Establishment,  and  as  Captain  was  placed  on 
recruiting  service  in  Chicago. 

His  advancement  in  his  regiment  hasbeen  phenomenal, 
and  to  be  called  to  the  command  fvf  a  regiment  of  so  renowned 
a  record  as  has  the  Third  InfFUtry,  is  an  honor  to  any  man, 
no  matter  where  he  won  his  spurs. 

Culonel  Page  is  a  Comrade  of  U.  S.  Grant  Post  No.  28, 

Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Department  of  Illinois,  and  is 
also  a  Companion  of  the  Loyal  Legion.  He  thas  an  interest, 
ing  family  who  live  with  him  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  well- 
earned  laurels. 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 186^. 


37 


dezvoused  here  preparatory  to  taking  the  field.  Some 
years  after  the  war  the  department  determined  to 
make  this  historic  place  one  of  the  permanent  forts,  and 
commenced  a  series  of  improvements.  Now  it  is  one  of 
the  finest  within  the  boundary  of  our  country,  and  we  find 
the  grounds,  1,500  acres  in  extent,  beautifully  laid  out, 
and  extensive  buildings  with  all  the  modern  improvements 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  Uncle  Sam's  soldiers. 

The  present  post  structures  consist  of  an  executive  build- 
ing, 93xG4  feet,  of  Milwaukee  brick,  two  stories  and  a 
basement,  heated  by  furnaces  and  with  good  water  supply. 
It  contains  offices  for  the  commanding  general  and  de- 
partment staff.  The  officers'  quarters:  a  row  of  thirteen 
brick  buildings  with  all  the  modern  improvements,  hot 
and  cold  water,  and  a  frame  stable  for  each  building.  Min- 
nesota Kow:  Six  double  one-story  frame  buildings,  afford- 
ing twelve  sets  of  quarters  for  clerks  and  employes.  Brick 
Kow:  A  two-story  brick  building,  123x31  feet,  with  cel- 
lars, having  sixteen  suites  of  two  rooms  each,  for  unmar- 
ried general  service  clerks  and  employes.  Quartermaster's 
employes  have  a  one-story  brick  building,  147x30  feet, 
containing  eight  sets  of  quarters  of  two  rooms  each,  also  a 
mess-house,  one  story  brick,  58x25  feet,  containing  a  kitch- 
en and  dining  room,  with  cellar  30x12  feet.  Engineer's 
quarters,  school  house,  quartermaster's  corrals,  brick 
stables,  blacksmith  shops,  frame  carriage  house,  granary 
and  hay-house,  ice  house,  etc.,  good  water  works,  sewer 
system,  and  electric  lights. 


aa 


MWmt^OTA  MA^l:^ACRE-4m, 


CTIAPTEIl  VI. 


THE  ALARM. 


I 'I' 
1 


The  Indians!     Tlie  Indians  are  coming! 

How  tlie  cry  rang  out  and  struck  terror  to  the  hearts 
of  the  bravest.  It  brought  to  mind  the  stories  of  early 
days,  of  this  great  Eepubhc,  when  the  east  was  but  sparse- 
ly settled,  and  the  great  west  an  unknown  country,  with 
the  Indian  monarch  of  all  he  surveyed.  The  vast  prairies, 
with  their  great  herds  of  buffalo  were  like  the  trackless 
seas;  the  waving  forests,  dark  and  limitless;  mountain 
ranges — the  Alleghanies,  the  Rockies  and  the  Sierra  Ne- 
vadas,  towering  above  the  clouds;  the  countless  lakes — 
fresh  and  salt,  hot  and  cold;  the  great  inlf^nd  seas;  the 
gigantic  water  falls,  and  the  laughing  waters;  the  immense 
rivers,  little  rivulets  at  the  mountain  source,  accumulat- 
ing as  they  flowed  on  in  their  immensity,  as  silently  and 
sullenly  they  wend  their  way  to  the  sea;  the  rocky  glens 
and  great  canyons,  the  v/onder  of  all  the  world.  It  was 
in  the  early  day  of  our  Ptcpublic,  when  the  hardy  pioneer 
took  his  little  family  and  out  in  the  wilderness  sought  a 
ftew  home;  a  time  when  the  Indian,  jealous  of  the  white 
man's  encroachment,  and  possessor  by  right  of  previous 
occupation,  of  this  limitless,  rich  and  woaderful  empire, 
when  great  and  powerful  Indian  nations — The  Delawares, 


GO 

d 

o 
o 

> 

o 

» 

f 

!^ 

o 


11 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE~1862. 


41 


the  Iliirons,  the  Floridas,  and  otlier  tribes  in  their  native 
splendor  and  independence,  said  to  the  pale  face,  '•Tims 
far  slialt  thou  go,  and  no  lai'lher."  Tlie  terror-stricken 
peoi)le  were  obhged  to  flee  to  i)hices  of  safety,  or  succunib 
to  the  tomahawk;  and  on  throughout  the  Seminole,  the 
Black  Hawk  and  other  wars,  including  the  great  Minne- 
sota Massacre  of  1802. 

Reader  accompany  me.  The  atmosphere  is  sur- 
charged with  excitement,  and  the  whole  country  is  terror- 
stricken.  The  southland  is  drenched  in  blood,  and  the 
earth  trembles  under  the  tread  of  marching  thousands. 

The  eyes  of  the  nation  are  turned  in  that  direction,  and 
the  whole  civilized  world  is  interested  in  the  greatest  civil 
war  of  the  world's  history.  The  levies  from  the  states  are 
enormous,  and  the  stalwarts,  by  regiments  and  brigades, 
respond  to  the  call  for  "Six  Hundred  Thousand  more." 

The  loyal  people  of  the  frontier  have  long  since  ceased 
to  look  upon  the  Indians  as  enemies,  and  tearfully  urge 
their  husbands  and  sons  to  rally  to  the  colors  in  the  South. 
What  is  taking  place  in  the  land  of  the  Da'iotahs? 

Their  empire  is  fading  away,  their  power  is  on  the 
wane,  their  game  is  scarce,  and  they  look  with  disgust 
and  disfavor  upon  their  unnatural  environments.  In 
poetry  and  in  prose  we  have  read  of  them  in  their  natural 
way  of  living.  They  have  been  wronged;  their  vast  empire 
has  slipped  away  from  them;  they  laugh,  they  scowl  and 
run  from  tribe  to  tribe;  they  have  put  on  the  war-paint 
arid  broken  the  pijie  of  peace;  with  brandishing  toma- 
ha^\k  and  glistening  scali)ing  knife  they  are  on  the  trail 
of  the  innocent. 

"Turn  out,  the  jo-ulars  are  coming!"  were  the  ringing 
words  of  Paul  Kevercj  as  he,  in  mad  haste,  on  April  18, 


m 


'fi 


m 


'■'■ ! 


a 


MmNESOTA   MASi^ACRE—mL 


1775,  on  foaming  steed,  rode  through  the  lowlands  of 
Middlesex;  so,  too,  are  the  unsuspecting  people  in  Minne- 
sota aroused  by  the  cry  of  a  courier,  who,  riding  along  at 
a  break-neck  speed  shouts:  "The  Indians,  the  Indians 
are  coming!"  All  nature  is  aglow;  the  sun  rises  from  his 
eastern  bed  and  spreads  his  warm,  benign  rays  over  this 
I)rairie  land,  and  its  happy  occupants,  as  this  terrific 
sound  rings  out  on  the  morning  air,  are  aroused  and  the 
cry:  "Come  over  and  help  us"  from  the  affrighted  fam- 
ilies, ts  thev  forsake  their  homes  and  flee  for  their  lives, 
speeds  on  its  wa;  '  ''irs  that  listen  and  heed  their  earn- 
est, heart-piercing  i  of  despair,  for  the  "Boys  in  Blue" 
respond. 

The  people  had  been  warned  by  friendly  Indians  that 
the  fire  brands  would  soon  be  applied;  and  that  once 
started,  none  could  tell  where  it  would  end.  They  were 
implored  to  take  heed  and  prepare  for  the  worst;  but  un- 
suspecting, they  had  been  so  long  among  their  Indian 
friends,  they  could  not  believe  that  treachery  would  bury 
all  feelings  of  friendship;  but  alas!  thousands  were  slain. 

Co  with  me  into  their  country  and  witness  the  sad  results 
of  a  misguided  people,  and  note  how  there  was  a  division 
in  their  camp.  The  hot  young  bloods,  ever  ready  for  ad- 
venture and  bloody  adventure  at  that,  had  dragged  their 
nation  into  an  unnecessarv  war  and  the  older  men  and 
conservative  men  with  sorrowful  hearts  counselled  togeth- 
er how  best  to  extricate  themselves  and  protect  the  lives 
of  those  who  were  prisoners  among  them.  The  campaign 
of  1862  is  on. 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE~1862. 


43 


CHAPTER  VII. 


SOME  OF  THE  CAUSES  OF  THE  WAR. 


Lo!  the  poor  Indian,  has  absorbed  much  of  the  peo- 
ple's attention  and  vast  sums  of  Uncle  Sam's  money; 
and  being  a  participant  in  the  great  Sioux  war  of 
1862,  what  I  write  deals  with  facts  and  not  fiction,  as  wo 
progress  from  Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota,  to  "Camp  Re- 
lease," where  we  found  and  released  over  four  hundred 
white  captives.  But  I  will  digress  for  a  time  and  look  into 
the  causes  leading  up  to  this  cruel  Sioux  war  that  cost  so 
many  lives  and  so  much  treasure.  There  is  a  great  diver- 
sity of  opinion  on  this  question,  and  while  not  particularly 
in  love  with  the  Indian,  I  have  not  the  temerity  to  criticise 
the  Almighty  because  he  puts  his  impress  white  upon  some, 
and  red  upon  others;  neither  shall  I  sit  in  judgment  and 
say  there  are  no  good  Indians — except  dead  ones.  The  In- 
dian question  proper  is  of  too  great  a  magnitude  to  analyze 
and  treat  with  intelligence  in  this  little  book;  but  in  the 
abstract,  and  before  we  enter  upon  the  active  campaign 
against  them,  let  us  look  at  it  and  see  if  the  blame  docs 
not  to  a  great  extent  rest  more  with  the  government  than 
it  does  with  these  people.  The  Indians  came  from  we 
know  not  where — legends  have  been  written  and  tradi- 
tion mentions  them  as  among  the  earliest  known  possessors 
of  this  great  western  world.     The  biologist  speculates,  and 


•  t 


m 


\i 


:! 


I 
ifl 


44 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


it  is  a  matter  of  grave  doubt  as  I  o  their  origin.  Certain  it  is, 
that  as  far  back  as  the  time  of  Columbus  they  were  lound 
here,  and  we  read  nothing  in  tlie  early  history  of  tlio  voy- 
ages of  this  wonderful  navigator  to  convince  us  that  the 
Indians  were  treacherous; — indeed  we  would  rather  incline 
to  the  o2)posite  opinion.  The  racial  war  began  with  the 
conquest  of  the  Spaniards.  In  their  primitive  condition, 
the  Indians  were  possessed  of  a  harmless  superstition — they 
knew  no  one  but  of  their  kind;  knew  nothing  of  another 
world;  knew  nothing  of  any  other  continent  in  this  world. 
When  they  discovered  the  white  men  and  tlie  ships  with 
their  sails  spread,  they  looked  upon  the  former  as  super- 
natural beings  and  the  ships  as  great  monsters  with  wings. 
Civilization  and  the  Indian  nature  are  incompatible  and 
evidences  of  this  were  soon  apparent.  The  ways  of  the 
Europeans  were  of  course  unknown  to  them.  They  were 
innocent  of  tlie  white  man's  avaricious  propensities  and 
the  practice  of  "give  and  take"  (and  generally  more  take 
than  give)  was  early  inaugurated  by  the  sailors  of  Colum- 
bus and  the  nefarious  practice  has  been  played  by  a  cer- 
tain class  of  America  is  ever  since.  Soon  their  suspicions 
were  aroused  and  friendly  intercourse  gave  place  to  wars  of 
extermination.  The  Indian  began  to  look  upon  the 
white  man  as  his  natural  enemy;  fighting  ensued;  tribes 
became  extinct;  territory  was  ceded,  and  abandoned. 
Soon  after  American  Independence  had  been  declared,  the 
Indians  became  the  wards  of  the  nation.  The  govern- 
ment, instead  of  treating  them  as  wards  and  children,  has 
uniformly  allowed  them  to  settle  their  own  disputes  in 
their  own  peculiar  and  savage  way,  and  has  looked  upon 
the  bloody  feuds  among  the  different  tribes  much  as  Plug 


MINNESOTA    MA SSA CRi:—lS62. 


45 


Uglics  and  Thugs  do  a  disrcpiUaljle  slugging  match  or 
dog-light.     A  writer  says: 

"If  they  are  wards  of  tlie  nation,  wliy  not  take  them 
under  tlie  strong  arm  of  tiie  hiw  and  deal  with  them  as 
with  otliers  who  break  the  law?  ]\Iake  an  cfVort  to  civilize, 
and  if  civilization  exterminates  them  it  will  be  an  honor- 
able death, — to  the  nation  at  least.  Send  missionaries 
among  them  instead  of  thieving  traders;  im])lements  of 
peace,  rather  than  weapons  of  war;  IJibles  instead  of  scalp- 
ing knives;  religious  tracts  instead  of  war  paint;  make  an 
effort  to  Christianize  instead  of  encouraging  them  in  their 
savagery  and  laziness;  such  a  course  would  receive  the 
commendation  and  acrjuiescence  of  the  Christian  world." 

There  is  not  a  sensible,  unprejudiced  man  in  America 
to-da}^,  who  gives  the  matter  thought,  but  knows  that  tlie 
broken  treaties  and  dishonest  dealing  with  the  Indians 
are  a  disgrace  to  this  nation;  and  the  impress  of  injustice 
is  deeply  and  justly  engraven  upon  the  savage  mind.  The 
lesson  taught  by  observation  was  that  lying  was  no  dis* 
grace,  adultery  no  sin,  and  theft  no  crime.  This  they 
learned  from  educated  white  men  who  had  been  sent  to 
then:  as  the  representatives  of  the  government;  and  these 
educated  gentlemen  (?)  looked  upon  the  Indian  as  common 
propert}',  and  to  filch  him  of  his  money  by  dishonest  prac- 
tices, a  pleasant  pastime.  The  Indian  woman  did  not  es- 
cape his  lecherous  eye  and  if  his  base  proposals  were  re- 
jected, he  had  other  means  to  resort  to  to  enable  him  to 
accomplish  his  base  desire.  These  wards  were  only  Indians 
and  why  respect  their  feelings?  "Sow  the  wind  and  reap 
the  whirlwind."  The  whirlwind  came  and  oh,  the  sad  re- 
sults! 

The     Indians 
grounds  by  the 


were    circumscribed    in    their    hunting 
onward    march    of    civilization    which 


^■f 


crowded  them  on  every  side  and  their  only  possible  hoi)e 


46 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


from  starvation,  Avas  in  the  fidelity  with  which  a  great  na- 
tion kept  its  i^ledges.  'Tis  true,  money  was  appropriated 
by  the  government  for  tliis  purpose,  but  it  is  equally  true 
that  gamblers  and  thieving  traders  set  up  fictitious  claims 
and  the  Indians  came  out  in  debt  and  their  poor  families 
were  left  to  starve.  Hungry,  exasperated  and  utterly 
powerless  to  help  themselves,  they  resolved  on  savage 
vengeance  when  the  propitious  time  arrived. 

"The  villainy  you  teach  me  I  will  execute,"  became  a 
living,  bloody  issue.  This  did  not  apply  alone  to  the 
Sioux  nation,  but  to  the  Chippewas  as  well.  These  peo- 
ple have  always  been  friends  of  the  whites,  and  have  uni- 
formly counselled  peace;  but  broken  pledges  and  imposi- 
tions filled  the  friendly  ones  with  sorrow,  and  the  others 
with  anger.  The  commissioners,  no  doubt,  rectified  the 
wrong  as  soon  as  it  was  brought  to  their  notice,  but  the 
Indians  were  plucked  all  the  same  and  had  sense  enough 
to  know  it.  Our  country  is  cursed  with  politicians — the 
statesmen  seem  to  have  disappeared;  but,  the  politician 
grows  like  rank  weeds  and  the  desire  for  "boodle" 
permeates  our  municipal,  state  and  national  afl;airs.  Our 
Indian  system  has  presented  a  fat  field  so  long  as  these 
wrrds  of  the  nation  submitted  to  being  fleeced  by  unprin- 
cipled agents  and  their  gambling  friends,  but  at  last,  the 
poor  Indian  is  aroused  to  the  enormity  of  the  imposition 
and  the  innocent  whites  had  to  suffer.  In  some  instances 
the  vengeance  of  God  followed  the  unscrupulous  agent 
and  the  scalping  knife  in  the  hand  of  the  injured  Indian 
was  made  the  instrument  whereby  this  retribution  came. 

There  has  been  a  great  deal  said  of  Indian  warriors — 
we  have  read  of  them  in  poetry  and  in  prose  and  of  the 
beautiful  Indian  maiden  as  well.     The  SIqux  warriors  ai-e 


MINNESOTA  MAiitiAt:RE—1862. 


47 


tall,  athletic,  fine  looking  men,  and  those  who  have  not 
been  degraded  by  the  earlier  and  rougher  frontier  white 
man,  or  had  their  intellects  destroyed  by  the  white  man's 
fire-water,  possess  minds  of  a  high  order  and  can  reason 
with  a  correctness  that  would  astonish  our  best  scholars 
and  put  to  blush  many  of  our  so-called  statesmen,  and  en- 
tirely put  to  rout  a  majority  of  the  men  who,  by  the  grace 
of  men's  votes  hold  down  Congressional  chairs.  Yet  they 
are  called  savages  and  are  associated  in  our  minds  with 
tomahawks  and  scalping  knives.  Few  regard  them  as 
reasoning  creatures  and  some  even  think  they  are  not 
endowed  by  their  Creator  with  souls.  Good  men  are 
sending  Bibles  to  all  parts  of  the  world,  sermons  are 
preached  in  behalf  of  our  fellow-creatures  who  are  perishing 
in  regions  known  only  to  us  by  name;  yet  here  within  easy 
reach,  but  a  few  miles  from  civilization,  surrounded  by 
churches  and  schools  and  all  the  moral  influences  abound- 
ing in  Christian  society;  here,  in  a  country  endowed  with 
every  advantage  that  God  can  bestow,  are  perishing,  body 
and  soul,  our  countrymen — perishing  from  disease,  starva- 
tion and  intemperance  and  all  the  evils  incident  to  their 
unhappy  condition.  I  have  no  apology  to  make  for  the 
savage  atrocities  of  any  people,  be  they  heathen  or  Christ- 
ian, or  pretended  Christian;  and  we  can  point  to  pages  of 
history  where  the  outrages  perpetrated  by  the  soldiers  of 
so-called  Christian  nations,  under  the  sanction  of  their 
governments,  would  cause  the  angels  to  weep.  Look  at 
bleeding  Armenia,  the  victim  of  the  lecherous  Turk,  who 
has  satiated  his  brutal,  bestial  nature  in  the  blood  and  in- 
noceacy  of  tens  of  thousands  of  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren; and  yet,  the  Christian  nations  of  the  world  look  on 
with  indifference  at  these  atrocities  and  pray:    "Oh,  Lord, 


;  - 


I. 


f 

!      i  i' 


?  I'i' 


e 

I  hi 


'% 


I  - 1 


:! 


I(  ' 


48 


MINNESOTA    MASSACR/'J~16'62. 


.ill! 


pour  out  Thy  ])k'S!sin;i:s  on  us  and  protect  us  while  we  are 
unmindful  of  (lie  ai)i)eals  of  mothers  and  daughters  in 
poor  Armenia  I" 

This  royal,  lecherous,  murderous  Turk,  instead  of  being 
dethroned  and  held  to  a  strict  accountability  for  the  hor- 
rible butcheries,  and  worse  than  butcheries,  going  on 
within  his  kingdom  and  for  which  he,  and  he  alone,  is 
responsible,  is  held  in  place  by  Christian  and  civilized 
nations  for  fear  that  some  one  shall,  in  the  partition  of  his 
unholy  empire,  get  a  bigger  slice  than  is  its  ecptitable  share. 

The  "sick  man"  has  been  allowed  for  the  last  half  cen- 
tury to  commit  the  most  outrageous  crimes  against  an 
indflfensive,  honest,  progressive,  and  law-abiding  people, 
and  no  vigorous  protest  has  gone  out  against  it.  Shall 
we,  then,  mercilessly  condemn  the  poor  Indians  because, 
driven  from  pillar  to  post,  with  the  government  pushing 
in  front  and  hostile  tribes  and  starvation  in  their  rear, 
they  have  in  vain  striven  for  a  bare  existence?  Whole 
families  have  starved  while  the  fathers  were  away  on  their 
hunt  for  game.  Through  hunger  and  disease  powerful 
tribes  have  become  but  a  mere  band  of  vagabonds. 

America,  as  she  listens  to  the  dying  wail  of  the  red  man, 
driven  from  the  forests  of  his  childhood  and  the  graves 
of  his  fathers,  cannot  afford  to  throw  stones;  but  rather 
let  her  redeem  her  broken  pledges  to  these  helpless,  be- 
nighted, savage  children,  and  grant  them  the  protection 
they  have  the  right  to  expect,  nay,  demand. 

"1  will  wash  my  hands  in  innocency"  will  not  suffice. 
Let  the  government  make  amends,  and  in  the  future  mete 
out  to  the  dishonest  agent  such  a  measure  of  punishment 
as  will  strike  terror  to  him  and  restore  the  confidence  of 


I 


MINNESO  TA    MASi^A  CRE—186'2. 


49 


the  Indians  who  think  they  have  been  unjustly  dealt  with. 
But  to  my  theme. 

The  year  of  which  I  write  was  a  time  in  St.  Paul 
when  the  Indian  was  almost  one's  next  door  nei^di- 
bor, — a  time  when  trading  between  St.  Paul  and  Win- 
nipeg was  carried  on  principally  by  half-breeds,  and 
the  mode  of  trans})ortation  the  crude  Ked  river  cart, 
which  is  made  entirely  of  wood, — not  a  scrap  of  iron  in  its 
whole  make-up.  The  team  they  used  was  one  ox  to  a  cart, 
and  the  creak  of  this  long  half-breed  train,  as  it  wended 
its  way  over  the  trackless  country,  could  be  heard  twice 
a  year  as  it  came  down  to  the  settlements  laden  with  furs 
to  exchange  for  supplies  for  families,  and  hunting  pur- 
poses. It  was  at  a  time  when  the  hostile  bands  of  Sioux 
met  bands  of  Chippewas,  and  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
engaged  in  deadly  conflict,  \vhile  little  attention  was  paid 
to  their  feuds  by  the  whites  or  the  government  at  Wash- 
ington. 


Villi 


i 


-.-'fa 


^1 
■■>l 


50 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


CHAPTKK  VIII. 


s: 


■,llli 


LITTLE  CROW  AT  DEVIL'S  LAKE. 


It  was  in  August,  18G1,  on  the  western  border  of 
Devil's  Lake,  Dakota,  there  sat  an  old  Indian  chief  in  the 
shade  of  his  wigwam,  preparing  a  fresh  supply  of  kinni- 
kinnick. 

The  mantle  of  evening  was  veiling  the  sky  as  this  old 
chief  worked  and  the  events  of  the  past  were  crowding  his 
memory,  lie  muses  alone  at  the  close  of  the  day,  while 
the  wild  bird  skims  away  on  its  homeward  course  and  the 
gathering  gloom  of  eventide  causes  a  sigh  to  escape  his 
breast,  as  many  sweet  pictures  of  past  happy  years  "come 
flitting  again  with  their  hopes  and  their  fears."  The 
embers  of  the  fire  have  gone  out  and  he  and  his  dog  alone 
are  resting  on  the  banks  of  the  lake  after  the  day's  hunt; 
and,  as  he  muses,  he  wanders  back  to  the  time  when  in 
legend  lore  the  Indian  owned  the  Western  world;  the  hills 
and  the  valleys,  the  vast  plains  and  their  abundance,  the 
rivers,  the  lakes  and  the  mountains  were  his;  great  herds 
of  buffalo  wended  their  way  undisturbed  by  the  white 
hunter;  on  every  hand  abundance  met  his  gaze,  and  the 
proud  Red  Man  with  untainted  blood,  and  an  eye  filled 
with  fire,  looked  out  toward  the  four  points  of  the  com- 
pass, and,  with  beating  heart,  thanked  the  Great  Spirit 
for  this  goodly  heritage.    To  disturb  his  dream  the  white 


'ii 


Wi:i 


.1   I   I 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


53 


man  came,  and  as  the  years  rolled  on,  step  T)y  step, 
pressed  him  back; — civilization  brought  its  cunning  and 
greed  for  money-getting.  A  generous  government,  per- 
haps too  confiding,  idlowed  unprincipled  men  to  rob  and 
crowd,  and  crowd  and  rob,  until  the  Mississippi  is  reached 
and  the  farther  West  is  portioned  out  to  him  for  his  future 
residence.  The  influx  of  whites  from  Europe  and  the 
rapidly  increasing  population  demand  more  room,  and 
another  move  is  planned  by  the  government  for  the  In- 
dians, until  they  are  crowding  upon  the  borders  of  un- 
friendly tribes. 

This  old  cliief  of  whom  we  speak  awoke  from  his  medi- 
tative dream,  and  in  imagination  we  see  him  with  shaded 
eyes  looking  afar  oft'  toward  the  mountain.  lie  beholds  a 
cloud  no  bigger  than  a  man's  hand;  he  strains  his  eye, 
and  eagerly  looks,  for  he  sees  within  the  pent-up  environ- 
ments of  this  cloud  all  the  hatred  and  revenge  with  which 
his  savage  race  is  endowed.  The  cloud  that  is  gathering 
is  not  an  imaginative  one,  but  it  will  burst  in  time  upon 
the  heads  of  guilty  and  innocent  alike;  and  the  old  chief 
chuckles  as  he  thinks  of  the  scalps  he  will  take  from  the 
hated  whites,  and  the  great  renown,  and  wonderful  power 
yet  in  store  for  him.  Ilis  runners  go  out  visiting  other 
bands  and  tell  what  the  old  chief  expects.  They  give 
their  assent  to  it,  and  as  they  talk  and  speculate,  they  too, 
become  imbued  with  a  spirit  of  revenge  and  a  desire  to 
gain  back  the  rich  heritage  their  fathers  once  held  in  pos- 
session for  them,  but  which  has  pas^.ed  from  their  control. 
They  are  not  educated,  it  is  true,  but  nature  has  endowed 
them  with  intelligence  enough  to  understand  that  their 
fathers  had  bartered  away  an  empire,  and  in  exchanire  had 
taken  a  limited  country,  illy  adapted  to  their  wants  and 


^i  i^ 


m 


Wf   ^.ii 


m 
^ 

i 


r  m 


54 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


n 
i 


l! 


crude,  uncivilized  habits.  This  old  chiefs  mind  is  made 
up,  and  we  will  meet  him  again — aye!  on  fields  of  blood 
and  carnage. 

The  government  had  acted  in  good  faith,  and  had  sup- 
plied the  Indians  with  material  for  building  small  brick 
houses,  furnishing,  in  addition  to  money  payments  and 
clothing,  farming  implements  and  all  things  necessary  to 
enable  them  to  support  themselves  on  their  fertile  farms; 
and  missionaries,  also,  were  among  them,  and  competent 
teachers,  ready  to  give  the  young  people,  as  they  grew  up, 
an  education,  to  enable  them  to  better  their  condition  and 
take  on  the  habits  and  language  of  the  white  settlers. 

But  tne  devil  among  the  Indians,  as  among  the  whites, 
finds  "some  mischief  still  for  idle  hands  to  do;"  gamblers 
and  other  unprincipled  men  followed  the  agents,  hob- 
nobbed with  them,  and  laid  their  plans  to  "hold-up  and 
bunko"  the  Indians,  who,  filled  with  fire-water  and  a  pas- 
sion for  gambling,  soon  found  themselves  stripped  of 
money,  ponies  and  blankets,  w'ith  nothing  in  view  but  a 
long,  cold,  dreary  winter  and  starvation.  A  gambler 
could  kill  an  Indian  and  all  he  had  to  fear  was  an  Indian's 
vengeance  (for  the  civil  law  never  took  cognizance  of 
the  crime);  but  if  an  Indian,  filled  with  rum,  remorse  and 
revenge,  killed  a  gambler,  he  was  punished  to  the  full  ex- 
tent of  the  law.  In  this  one  thing  the  injustice  was  so 
apparent  that  even  an  Indian  could  see  it;  and  he  made 
up  his  mind  that  when  the  time  came  he  would  even  up 
the  account.  The  savage  Indians  were  intelligent  enough 
to  know  that  in  these  transactions  it  was  the  old  story  of 
the  handle  on  the  jug — all  on  one  side. 

Those  of  the  "friendlies"  who  were  Christianized  and 
civilized  were  anxious  to  bury  forever  all  remains  of  sav- 


% 


it 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


55 


agery  and  become  citizens  of  the  nation,  and  if  the  gov- 
ernment had  placed  honorable  men  over  them  to  adminis- 
ter the  law,  their  influence  would  have  been  felt,  and  in 
time  the  leaven  of  law  and  order,  would  have  leavened  the 
whole  Sioux  nation.  The  various  treaties  that  had  been 
made  with  them  by  the  government  did  not  seem  to 
satisfy  the  majorit}^  and  whether  there  was  any  Just  cause 
for  this  dissatisfaction  I  do  not  propose  to  discuss;  but, 
that  a  hostile  feeling  did  exist  was  apparent,  as  subsequent 
events  proved. 

The  provisions  of  the  treaties  for  periodical  money  pay- 
ments, although  carried  out  with  substantial  honesty, 
failed  to  fulfill  the  exaggerated  expectations  of  the  Indians; 
and  these  matters  of  irritation  added  fuel  to  the  fire  of 
hostility,  which  always  has,  and  always  will  exist  between 
a  civilized  and  a  barbarous  nation,  when  brought  into  im- 
mediate contact;  and  especially  has  this  been  the  case 
where  the  savages  were  proud,  brave  and  lordly  warriors, 
who  lookeJI  with  supreme  contempt  upon  all  civilized 
methods  of  obtaining  a  living,  aP'l  wiio  felt  am})ly  able  to 
defend  themselves  and  avenge  ihcir  wrongs.  Nothing 
special  has  been  discovered  to  have  taken  place  other  than 
the  general  dissatisfaction  referred  to,  to  which  the  out- 
break of  1862  can  be  immediately  attributed.  This  out- 
break was  charged  to  emissaries  from  the  Confederates  of 
the  South,  but  there  was  no  foundation  for  these  allega- 
tions. The  main  reason  was  that  the  Indians  were  hungry 
and  angry;  they  had  become  restless,  and  busy-bodies 
among  them  had  instilled  within  them  the  idea  ihn^  die 
great  war  in  the  South  was  drawing  off  able-bodied  men 
and  leaving  the  women  and  children  at  home  helpless. 
Some  of  the  ambitious  chiefs  thought  it  a  good  oppor- 


i 


B 


-    i 


.^'Si 


;i 


f! 


m 


56 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 186^. 


timity  to  regain  their  lost  country  and  exalt  themselves  in 
the  eyes  of  their  people.  Tlie  most  aml)itious  of  the  lot 
was  Little  Crow,  the  old  chief  we  saw  silting  in  the  shade 
of  his  wigwam  on  Devil's  ]jake.  lie  was" a  wily  old  fox 
and  knew  how  to  enlist  the  braves  on  his  side.  After  the 
battles  of  Birch  Coolie  and  Wood  Lake,  Minnesota,  in 
September,  18()2,  he  deserted  his  warriors,  and  was  dis- 
covered one  day  down  in  the  settlements  picking  berries 
upon  which  to  subsist.  Refusing  to  surrender,  he  was 
shot,  and  in  his  death  the  whites  were  relieved  of  an  im- 
])lacable  foe,  and  the  Indians  dei)riv('d  of  iin  intrepid  and 
daring  leader. 

There  was  nothing  about  the  agencies  up  to  August  18, 
18G2,  to  indicate  that  the  Lidians  intended,  or  even 
thought,  of  an  attack.  Everything  had  an  appearance  of 
quiet  and  security.  On  tiie  ITth  of  August,  however,  a 
small  i)arty  of  Indians  ap|)eared  at  Acton,  Minnesota,  and 
miii'dered  several  settlers,  but  it  was  not  generally  thought 
that  they  left  tlie  agency  with  this  in  mind;  this  killing 
was  an  afterthought,  a  diversion;  but,  on  the  news  of 
these  murders  reaching  the  Lidians  at  the  Upper  Agency 
on  the  18th,  open  hostilities  were  at  once  commenced  and 
the  whites  and  traders  indiscriminately  murdered.  George 
Spencer  waj^  the  only  white  man  in  the  stores  who  escaped 
witii  his  life,  lie  was  twice  wounded,  however,  and  run- 
ning upstairs  in  the  loft  hid  h.imx'lf  away  and  rcinained 
concealed  until  the  Indians,  thinking  no  more  white  peo- 
ple remained,  left  the  place,  when  an  old  squaw  took 
Spencer  to  her  home  and  kept  him  until  his  fast  friend, 
Shaska,  came  and  took  him  under  his  ])rotectiou.  The 
picture  of  Spencer  is  taken  from  an  old-lime  photograph. 

The  missionaries  residing  a  short   distance  abnve  the 


MlNNEi^OTA  MAlSSACRE—1862. 


57 


I 


Yellow  Medicine,  and  their  people,  with  a  few  others,  were 
notified  by  friendly  disposed  Indians,  and  to  the  number 
of  about  forty  made  their  escape  to  liutchinson,  Minne- 
sota. Similar  events  occurred  at  the  Lower  A<j:ency  on 
the  same  day,  when  nearly  all  the  traders  were  butciu'ied, 


I 


George  Spencer, 

Who  was  Saved  by  Shaska,  Auffust,  1362. 

and  several  who  got  away  before  the  general  massacre 
commenced  were  killed  before  reaching  Fort  I!id<'-  Iv, 
thirteen  miles  below,  or  the  other  places  of  sifety  i  >  >\  h Ch 
they   were  fleeing.      All   the  buildings  at   both  ai^e.ij  Co 


J. 


t  ,  'A\ 


■  i 


m 


«i,I; 


li 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 186t 


•were  destroyed,  but  such  property  as  was  valuable  to  the 
Indians  was  carried  off. 

The  news  of  the  outbreak  reached  Fort  Ridgely  about  8 
o'clock  a.  m.  on  the  18th  of  August  through  the  arrival  of 
a  team  from  the  Lower  Agency,  which  brought  a  citizen 
badly  wounded,  but  no  details.  Captain  John  F.  Marsh, 
of  the  Fifth  Minnesota,  with  eighty-five  men,  was  hold- 
ing the  fort,  and  upon  the  news  reaching  him  he  trans- 
ferred his  command  of  the  fort  to  Lieutenant  Gere  and 
with  forty-five  men  started  for  the  scene  of  hostilities. 
He  had  a  full  supply  of  ammunition,  and  with  a  six-mule 
team  left  the  fort  at  9  a.  m.  on  the  18th  of  August,  full  of 
courage  and  anxious  to  get  to  the  relief  of  the  panic- 
stricken  people.  On  the  march  up,  evidences  of  the  In- 
dians' bloody  work  soon  appeared,  for  bodies  were  found 
by  the  roadside  of  those  who  had  recently  been  murdered, 
one  of  whom  was  Dr.  Humphrey,  surgeon  at  the  agency. 
On  reaching  the  vicinity  of  the  ferry  no  Indians  were  in 
sight  except  one  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  who  en- 
deavored to  induce  the  soldiers  to  cross.  A  dense  chap- 
paral  bordered  the  river  on  the  agency  side  and  tall  grass 
covered  the  bottom  land  on  the  side  where  the  troops  were 
stationed.  From  various  signs,  suspicions  were  aroused  of 
the  presence  of  Indians,  and  the  suspicions  proved  correct, 
for  without  a  moment's  notice,  Indians  in  great  numbers 
sprang  up  on  all  sides  of  the  troops  and  opened  a  deadly 
fire.  About  half  of  the  men  were  instantly  killed.  Find- 
ing themselves  surrounded,  desperate  hand-to-hand  en- 
counters occurred,  with  varying  results,  and  the  remnant 
of  the  command  made  a  point  down  the  river  about  two 
miles  from  the  ferry,  Captain  Marsh  being  among  the 
number.    They  evidently  attempted  to  cross,  but  Captain 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


59 


Marsh  was  drowned  in  the  effort,  and  only  thirteen  of  his 
command  escaped  and  reached  the  fort  alive.  Captain 
Marsh,  in  his  excitement,  may  have  erred  in  judgment 
and  deemed  it  more  his  duty  to  attack  than  retreat;  but 
the  great  odds  of  five  hundred  Indians  to  forty-five  soldiers 
was  too  great  and  the  captain  and  his  brave  men  paid  the 
penalty.  He  was  young,  brave  and  ambitious  and  knew 
but  little  of  the  Indians'  tactics  in  war;  but  he  no  doubt 
believed  he  was  doing  his  duty  in  advancing  rather  than 
retreating,  and  his  countrymen  will  hold  his  memory  and 
the  memory  of  those  who  gave  up  their  lives  with  him  in 
warmer  esteem  than  they  would  had  he  adopted  the  more 
prudent  course  of  retracing  his  steps. 

At  a  later  date,  in  1876,  it  will  be  remembered,  the  brave 
Custer  was  led  into  i.  similar  trap,  and  of  the  five  com- 
panies of  the  Seventh  United  Stai^^^s  cavalry  and  their  in- 
trepid commanders  only  one  was  left  to  tell  the  tale. 

After  ha^ang  massacred  the  people  at  the  agencies,  the 
Indians  at  once  sent  out  marauding  parties  in  all  direc- 
tions and  covered  the  country  from  the  northeast  as  far 
as  Glencoe,  Hutchinson  and  St.  Peter,  Minnesota,  and  as 
far  south  as  Spirit  Lake,  Iowa.  In  their  trail  was  to  be 
found  their  deadly  work  of  murder  and  devastation,  for  at 
least  one  thousand  men,  women  and  children  were  found 
brutally  butchered,  houses  burned,  and  beautiful  farms 
laid  waste.  The  settlers,  being  accustomed  to  the  friendly 
visits  of  these  Indians,  were  taken  completely  unawares 
and  were  given  no  opportunity  for  defense. 

Major  Thomas  Galbraith,  the  Sioux  agent,  had  raised  a 
company  known  as  the  Eenville  Rangers,  and  was  expect- 
ing to  report  at  Fort  Snelling  for  muster  and  orders  to 
proceed  south  to  join  one  of  the  Minnesota  commands; 


t'Ul 

''111 


1  -iS 


IhKi 


n'.m 


GO 


MINNESO  TA   MA  SSA  CRE—lSiJ^. 


but  upon  liis  arrival  at  St.  Peter,  on  the  evening  of  August 
18,  lie  leained  tlie  newsj  of  the  outbreak  at  the  ageneies, 
and    immediately   retraeed    his   steps,   returning   to   Fort 
liidgely,  where  he  arrived  on  the  IDtli.     On  the  same  day 
Lieutenant   Sheehan,   of  the   Fifth   Minnesota   Infantry, 
with  fifty  men,  arrived  also,  in  obedience  to  a.  dispatch  re- 
ceived from  Captain  Marsh,  who  commanded  the  post  at 
Fort   Ridgely.     Lieutenant   Sheehan,  in  enthusiasm  and 
appearance,  resembled  General  Sheridan.     lie  was  young 
and  ambitious,  and  entered  into  this  important  work  with 
sucli  vim  as  to  inspire  his  men  to  deeds  of  heroic  valor. 
Upon  receipt  of   Captain  Marsh's   dispatch  ordering  him 
to  return  at  once,  as'  "The  Indians  are  raising  hell  at  the 
Lower  Agency!"  he  so  inspired  his  men  so  as  to  make  the 
forced  march  of  forty-two  miles  in  nine  hours  and  a  half, 
and  he  did  not  arrive  a  minute  too  soon.     After  Captain 
Marsh's  death  he  became  the  ranking  ofTicer  at  Fort  Ridge- 
ly, and  the  mantle  of  authority  could  not  fall  on  more 
deserving   shoulders.     His   command   consisted  .of   Com- 
panies B  and  C  of  the.  Fifth  Minnesota,  100  men;  tlen- 
ville  Rangers,  50  men;   with  several  men  of  otht.  organi- 
zations, inchiding  Sergeant  John  Jones  (afterwards  cap- 
tain of  artillery),  and  quite  a  number  of  citizen  refugees, 
and  a  party  that  had  been  sent  up  by  the  Indian  agent 
with  the  money  to  pay  the  Indians  at  the  agency. 


3 

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\ 


MINNESOTA    MASt^ACRE—1862. 


63 


CIIAPTEll   IX. 


FORT  RIDGLEY  BESIEGED. 


Fort  Riclgely  was  a  fort  in  name  only.  It  was  not  built 
for  defense,  but  was  simply  a  collection  of  buildings  built 
around  a  square  facing  inwards.  The  commandant's 
quarters,  and  those  of  the  officers,  also,  were  two-story 
structures  of  wood,  while  the  men's  barracks  of  two  stories 
and  the  commissary  storehouse  were  stone,  and  into  these 
the  families  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  and  the  refugee 
families  were  placed  during  the  siege.  On  the  20th  of 
August,  18G2,  about  3  p.  m.,  pn  attack  was  made  upon 
the  fort  by  a  large  body  of  Indians,  who  stealthily  came 
down  the  ravines  and  surrounded  it.  The  first  intima- 
tion the  people  and  the  garrison  had  of  their  proximity 
was  a  volley  from  the  hostile  muskets  pouring  between  the 
openings  of  the  buildings.  The  sudden  onslaught  caused 
great  consternation,  but  order  was  soon  restored. 

Sergeant  Jones,  of  the  battery,  who  had  seen  service  in 
the  British  army,  as  well  as  in  our  own  regular  army,  in 
attempting  to#turn  his  guns  on  the  Indians  found  to  his 
utter  astonishment  that  the  pieces  had  been  tampered 
with  by  some  of  the  half-breeds  belonging  to  the  Renville 
Rangers  who  had  deserted  to  the  enemy.'  They  had  spiked 
the  guns  by  ramming  old  rags  into  them.  The  sergeant 
soon  made  them  serviceable,  however,  and  brought  his 


■■■   Vv 


:?  U 


64 


MINNKSO  TA   MA  SSA  (J UK— 1862, 


m 


pieces  to  bear  upon  tlie  Indians  in  such  an  efTectivu  way 
us  to  tcacli  liicni  a  lesson  in  artillery  i)ractice  tliey  did  not 
forget.  Tile  "rolteii  l)al!-5,"  as  tliey  termed  tlie  siieils,  fell 
tliiclv  and  last  among  tliem,  and  tlie  liavoc  was  so  great 
tliat  tliey  withdrew  out  of  range  to  lu)ld  a  council  of  war 
and  recover  from  their  sur[)rise.  The  fight  lasted,  how- 
ever, for  three  hours,  with  a  loss  to  the  garrison  of  three 
killed  and  eighteen  wounded.  On  the  morning  of  Thurs- 
day, the  "i\^i  of  August,  the  attack  was  renewed  by  the 
Indians,  and  they  made  a  second  attack  in  the  afternoon, 
but  witli  less  force  and  earnestness  and  but  little  damage 
to  the  garrison.  The  soldiers  were  on  the  alert  and  the 
night  was  an  anxious  one,  for  the  signs  from  the  hostiles 
indicated  that  they  were  making  pre])arations  for  a  further 
attempt  to  cai)ture  the  fort.  During  the  night  barricades 
were  placed  at  all  open  spaces  between  the  buildings,  and 
the  little  garrison  band  instructed,  each  man's  duty  speci- 
fied, and  directions  given  to  the  women  and  children,  who 
were  placed  in  the  stone  barracks,  to  lie  low  so  as  not  to  be 
harmed  by  bullets  coming  in  at  the  windows.  On  Friday, 
the  22d,  Little  Crow,  the  then  Sioux  commander  in  chief, 
had  the  fort  surrounded  by  G50  warriors  whom  he  had 
brought  down  from  the  agency.  He  had  them  concealed 
in  the  ravines  which  surrounded  the  fort,  and  endeavored 
by  sending  a  few^  of  the  warriors  out  on  the  open  prairie 
to  draw  the  garrison  out  from  the  fort,  but  fortunrtely 
there  were  men  there  who  had  previously  had  experience 
in  Indian  warfare,  and  the  scheme  of  this  wily  old  Indian 
fox  did  not  work.  Little  Crow,  finding  it  useless  to  fur- 
ther maneuver  in  this  way,  ordered  an  attack.  The  show- 
ers of  bullets  continued  for  seven  long  hours,  or  until 
about  7  p.  m.,  but  the  attack  was  courageously  and  bit- 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


6d 


terly  opposed  by  the  infantry,  and  this,  together  with  the 
skilll'iilly  handled  artillery  by  Sergeant  Jones,  saved  the 
garrison  for  another  day.  The  Indians  sought  shelter  be- 
hind and  in  the  outlying  wooden  buildings,  but  well  di- 
rected shells  from  the  battery  tired  these  buildings  and 
routed  the  Indians,  who  in  turn  made  varioys  attempts  by 
means  of  fire  arrows  to  ignite  the  wooden  buildings  of  the 
fort  proper.  But  for  the  daring  and  vigilance  of  the 
troops  the  enemy  would  have  succeeded  in  their  purpose. 
The  Indians  lost  heavily  in  this  engagement,  while  the 
loss  to  the  troops  was  one  killed  and  seven  wounded.  Lieu- 
tenant Sheehan,  the  commander  of  the  post,  was  a  man  of 
true  grit,  and  he  was  ably  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Gorman 
of  the  Renville  Hangers,  and  Sergeants  Jones  and  Mc- 
Grau  of  the  battery.  Every  man  was  a  hero  and  did  his 
whole  duty.  Surrounded  as  they  were  by  hundreds  of 
bloodthirsty  savages,  this  little  band  was  all  that  stood 
between  the  hundreds  of  women  and  children  refugees 
and  certain  death,  or  worse  than  death!  Besides,  the  gov- 
ernment storehouses  were  filled  with  army  supplies,  and 
about  $75,000  in  gold,  with  which  they  intended  making 
an  annuity  payment  to  these  same  Indians. 

The  water  supply  being  cut  off,  the  soldiers  and  all  the 
people,  especially  the  wounded,  suffered  severely,  but  Post 
Surgeon  Mueller  and  his  noble  wife  heroically  responded 
to  the  urgent  calls  of  the  wounded  sufferers  irrespective  of 
danger.  Mrs.  Mueller  was  a  lovely  woman  of  the  heroic 
type.  During  the  siege,  in  addition  to  caring  for  the 
wounded,  she  made  coffee,  and  in  the  night  frequently 
visited  all  the  men  who  were  on  guard  and  plentifully  sup- 
plied them  with  this  exhilarating  beverage.  An  incident 
in  relation  to  her  alsp  J3;  that  during  the  siege  the  Indians 


m 


66 


MINNE'WTA    MA!Sl>' AVRE~1862, 


had  sheltered  themselves  behind  a  hay  stack  and  from  it 
were  doing  deadly  work.  Sergeant  Jones  could  not  bring 
his  twenty-four  pounder  to  bear  o.u  them  without  expos- 
ing his  men  too  much,  unless  he  fired  directly  through  a 
building  that  stood  in  the  v  ay.  This  house  was  built  as 
they  are  on  the  plantations  in  the  f^outh,  with  a  broad  hall 
running  from  the  front  porch  clear  through  to  the  rear.  In 
the  rear  of  this  hall  were  rough  double  doors,  closed  princi- 
pally in  winter  time  to  keep  the  snow  from  driving  through. 
The  r.srgeant  had  them  clossd  nnd  then  brought  his  piece 
around  in  front,  and  the  Indians  away  back  of  the  house 
could  not  see  what  the  maneuvering  was.  He  crept  up 
and  attached  a  rope  to  the  handle  of  the  door,  and  looking 
through  the  cracks  got  the  range  and  then  sighted  his 
gun.  Mrs.  Mueller,  sheltered  and  out  of  harm's  way,  held 
the  end  of  the  attached  rope.  The  signal  for  her  to  pull 
open  the  doors  was  given  by  Sergeant  Jones,  and  this 
signal  was  the  dropping  of  a  handkerchief.  When  the 
signal  came,  with  good  nerve,  she  pulled  the  rope  and 
open  flew  the  doors.  Immediately  the  gunner  pulled  the 
lanyard  and  the  shell  with  lighted  fuse  landed  in  the  hay- 
stacks, which  were  at  oi;ce  set  fire  to  and  the  Indians  dis- 
lodged. This  lady  died  at  hei  post,  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  her,  and  a  grateful  government  ha^  erected  an  ex- 
pensive monument  over  her  remains,  which  lie  buried  in 
the  soldiers'  cemetery  at  Fort  Ridgely,  where,  with  hun- 
dreds of  others  whose  pathway  to  the  grave  was  smoothed 
by  her  motherly  hands,  they  will  remain  until  the  great 
reveille  on  the  resurrection  dawn. 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


67 


LITTLK  OBOW, 


CHAPTER   X. 


SIEGE  OF  NEW  ULM. 


Little  Crow,  finding  himself  baffled  in  his  attempt  to 
capture  the  fort,  and  learnin^:  from  his  scouts  that  Colonel 
Sibley  was  on  his  way  with  two  rec^ments  to  relieve  the 
garrison,  concentrated  all  his  forces  and  proceeded  to  New 


3lr 


ii, 


\ 


63 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE^1862. 


li  I 


Ulm,  about  thirteen  miles  distant,  which  he  intended  to 
wipe  out  the  next  morning.  Here,  again,  he  was  disap- 
pointed. The  hero  of  New  Ulm  was  Hon.  Charles  E. 
Flandreau,  who  deserves  more  than  a  passing  notice.  By 
profession  he  is  a  lawyer,  and  at  this  time  was  a  judge  on 
the  bench,  and  is  now  enjoying  a  lucrative  practice  in  St. 
Paul.  By  nature  he  is  an  organizer  and  a  leader,  and  to 
his  intrepid  bravery  and  wise  judgment  New  Ulm  and  her 
inhabitants  owe  their  salvation  from  the  savagery  of  Little 
Crow  and  his  bloodthirsty  followers.  He  had  received 
the  news  of  the  outbreak  at  his  home  near  St.  Peter  in  the 
early  morning  of  August  19,  and  at  once  decided  what 
should  be  done  to  save  the  people. 

His  duty  to  wife  and  children  was  apparent,  and  to 
place  them  in  safety  was  his  first  thought,  which  he  did 
by  taking  them  to  St.  Peter.  He  then  issued  a  call  for 
volunteers,  and  in  response  to  this  soon  found  himself 
surrounded  by  men  who  needed  no  second  bidding,  for 
the  very  air  was  freighted  with  the  terror  of  the  situation. 
Armed  with  guns  of  any  and  all  descriptions,  with  bottles 
of  powder,  boxes  of  caps  and  pockets  filled  with  bullets, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  determined  on  revenge, 
pressed  forward  to  meet  this  terrible  foe. 

Where  should  they  go?  Rumors  came  from  all  direc- 
tions, and  one  was  that  Fort  Ridgely  was  being  besieged 
and  had  probably  already  fallen.  Their  eyes  also  turned 
toward  New  Ulm,  which  was  but  thirteen  miles  distant 
and  in  an  absolutely  unprotected  condition.  Its  affrighted 
people  were  at  the  mercy  of  this  relentless  enemy.  The 
work  Judge  Flandreau  performed  in  perfecting  an  organi- 
zation was  masterful,  for  the  men  who  flocked  in  and 
offered  their  services  he  could  not  control  in  a  military 


Minnesota  MAssActti:—i862. 


sense,  because  they  were  not  enlisted.  The  emergency 
was  very  great  and  it  was  necessary  to  do  the  right  thing 
and  at  the  right  time  and  to  strike  hard  and  deadly  blows, 
and  trusted  men  were  sent  forward  to  scout  and  report. 
Hon.  Henry  A.  Swift,  afterwards  governor  of  Minnesota, 
rendered  good  service  in  company  with  William  G.  Hay- 
den  as  they  scouted  the  country  in  a  buggy.  It  was  a 
novel  way  to  scout,  but  horses  were  too  scarce  to  allow  a 
horse  to  each.  An  advance  guard  was  sent  forward  about 
noon,  and  an  hour  later  the  balance  of  the  command  was 
in  motion,  eagerly  pushing  forward  and  anxious  to  meet 
the  enemy  wherever  he  might  be  found.  The  advance 
guard  which  Flandreau  sent  out  to  determine  whether 
Fort  Ridgely  or  New  Ulm  should  be  the  objective  point 
had  not  yet  been  heard  from,  and,  that  no  time  might  be 
lost,  he  determined  that  he  would  push  forward  to  New 
Ulm,  and  if  that  village  was  safe  he  would  turn  his  atten- 
tion to  Kidgely.  He  found  his  guard  at  New  Ulm,  and 
they  had  been  largely  reinforced  by  other  men  who  came 
in  to  help  protect  the  place.  They  arrived  just  in  time 
to  assist  in  repelling  an  attack  of  about  two  hundred  In- 
dians, who  had  suddenly  surrounded  the  little  village. 
Before  the  arrival  of  Flandreau  and  his  command  thev 
could  see  the  burning  houses  in  the  distance,  and  by  this 
they  knew  that  the  work  of  devastation  had  commenced, 
and  the  forced  march  was  kept  up.  The  rain  was  pour- 
ing in  torrents,  and  yet  they  had  made  thirty-two  miles  in 
seven  hours  and  reached  the  place  about  S  o'clock  in  the 


evening. 


The  next  day  reinforcements  continued  to  come  in  from 
various  points  until  the  little  army  of  occupation  num- 
bered three  hundred  effective  and  determined  men.    A 


II 


r, 


70 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


council  of  war  was  called  and  a  line  of  defense  determined 
upon  by  throwing  up  barricades  in  nearly  all  the  streets. 

The  situation  was  a  very  grave  one  and  it  was  soon  ap- 
parent that  a  one-man  power  was  necessary — that  a  guid- 
ing mind  must  control  the  actions  of  this  hastily  gathered 
army  of  raw  material;  and  to  this  end,  Judge  Flandreau 
was  declared  generalissimo,  and  subsequent  events  proved 
that  the  selection  was  a  most  judicious  one.  In  a  few 
days  subsequent  to  this  he  received  a  commission  as  colonel 
from  Governor  Ramsey  and  was  placed  in  command  of  all 
irregular  troops.  There  were  fifty  companies  reported  to 
him  all  told;  some  were  mounted  and  others  were  not.  His 
district  extended  from  New  ITlm,  Minnesota,  to  Sioux  City, 
Iowa.  It  was  a  most  important  command,  and  Colonel 
Flandreau  proved  himself  a  hero  as  well  as  a  competent 
organizer.  He  is  so  modest  about  it  even  to-day  that  he 
rarely  refers  to  it. 

A  provost  guard  was  at  once  established,  order  inaugur- 
ated, defenses  strengthened  and  confidence  partially  re- 
stored. N'othing  serious  transpired  until  Saturday  morn- 
ing at  about  9  o'clock,  when  650  Indians,  who  had  been 
so  handsomely  repulsed  at  Fort  Ridgely,  thirteen  miles 
above,  made  a  determined  assault  upon  the  town,  driving 
in  the  pickets.  The  lines  faltered  for  a  time,  but  soon 
rallied  and  steadily  held  the  enemy  at  bay.  The  Indians 
had  surrounded  the  town  and  commenced  firing  the  build- 
ings, and  the  conflagration  was  soon  raging  on  both  sides 
of  the  main  street  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town,  and  the 
total  destruction  of  the  place  seemed  inevitable.  It  was 
necessary  to  dislodge  the  enemy  in  some  way,  so  a  squad  of 
fifty  men  was  ordered  out  to  charge  down  the  burning 
street,  and  the  Indians  were  driven  out.     The  soldiers  uien 


II 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE~1862. 


71 


burned  everything  and  the  battle  was  won.  The  desperate 
character  of  the  fighting  may  be  judged  when  we  rind  the 
casualties  to  be  ten  men  killed  and  fifty  wounded  in  about 
an  hour  and  a  half,  and  this  out  of  a  much  depleted  force, 
for  out  of  the  little  army  of  three  hundred  men,  seventy- 
five  who  had  been  sent  under  Lieutenant  Huey  to  guard 
the  ferry  were  cut  off  and  forced  to  retreat  towards  St. 
Peter.  Before  reaching  this  place,  however,  they  met  re- 
inforcements and  returned  to  the  attack.  The  Indians 
now,  in  turn,  seeing  quite  a  reinforcement  coming,  thought 
it  wise  to  retreat,  and  drew  off  to  the  northward,  in  the 
direction  of  the  fort,  and  disappeared. 

The  little  town  of  New  Ulm  at  this  time  contained 
from  1,200  to  1,500  non-combatants,  consisting  of 
women  and  children,  refugees  and  unarmed  citizens, 
every  individual  of  whom  would  have  been  massa- 
cred if  it  had  not  been  for  this  brave  band  of  men 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  Flandreau.  Not  know- 
ing what  the  retreat  of  the  Indians  indicated,  the  un- 
certainty and  scarcity  of  provisions,  the  pestilence  to  be 
feared  from  stench  and  exposure,  all  combined  to  bring 
about  the  decision  to  evacuate  the  town  and  try  to  reach 
Mankato.  In  order  to  do  this  a  train  was  made  up,  into 
which  were  loaded  the  women  and  children  and  about 
eighty  wounded  men.  It  was  a  sad  sight  to  witness  this 
enforced  breaking  up  of  home  ties,  homes  burned  and 
farms  and  gardens  laid  waste,  loved  ones  dead  and  wound- 
ed, and  this  one  of  the  inevitable  results  of  an  unnecessary 
end  unprovoked  war.  The  march  to  Mankato  was  with- 
out special  incident.  Especially  fortunate  was  this  little 
train  of  escaping  people  in  not  meeting  any  wandering 
party  of  hostile  Indians. 


ill 


(I! 


ill 


72 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


The  first  day  about  half  the  distance  from  Mankato  to 
St.  Peter  was  covered;  the  iiiaiii  eohiinn  was  puslied  on  to 
its  final  destination,  it  being  the  intention  of  Colonel 
llandreau  to  return  with  a  portion  of  his  command  to 
New  Ulm,  or  remain  where  they  were,  so  as  to  keep  a  force 
between  the  Indians  and  the  settlements.  But  the  men 
of  his  command,  not  having  heard  a  word  from  their  fam- 
ilies for  over  a  week,  felt  ajiprehcnsive  and  refused  to  re- 
turn or  remain,  holding  that  the  protection  of  their  fam- 
ilies was  paramount  to  all  other  considerations.  It  must 
be  remembered  that  these  men  were  not  soldiers,  but  had 
demonstrated  their  willingness  to  fight  when  necessary, 
and  they  did  fight,  and  left  many  of  their  comrades  dead 
and  wounded  on  the  battlefield.  The  train  that  had  been 
sent  forward  arrived  in  Mankato  on  the  25th  of  August, 
and  the  balance  of  the  command  reached  the  town  on  the 
day  following,  when  the  men  sought  their  homes. 

The  stubborn  resistance  the  Indians  met  with  at  Fort 
Ridgely  and  New  I'lm  caused  them  to  withdraw  to  their 
own  country,  and  this  U  inporary  lull  in  hostilities  enabled 
the  whites  to  more  thoroiiirhly  organize,  and  the  troops  to 
prepare  for  a  campaign  up  into  the  Yellow  Medicine  coun- 
try, where  it  was  known  a  large  number  of  captives  were 
held. 


I 


Colonel  Charles  E.  Flandreau, 

Who  was  In  command  at  New  Ulm,  Minn.,  during  the  Siege  from 
August  20th  to  25th,  1862. 


II 


i;^'     '■¥<  •-*  *-  •  •-■**•- 


-'•<.> 


■^■■■::^-  ^" 


■  »    -r  .,  '■  »«■  jt 


MINNEiSOTA  MASS  ACHE— 1862. 


75 


CHAPTER   XI. 


COL.  FLANDREAU  IN  COMMAND. 


While  the  exciting  events  narrated  in  the  previous  chap- 
ters were  taking  place  other  portions  of  the  state  were  pre- 
paring for  defense.  At  Forest  City,  Hutchinson,  Glencoe, 
and  even  as  far  south  as  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis,  men 
were  rapidly  organizing  for  home  protection.  In  addition 
to  the  Sioux,  the  Chippewas  and  Winnebagoes  were  be- 
coming affected  and  seemed  anxious  for  a  pretext  to  don 
the  paint  and  take  the  warpath.  Colonel  Flandreau  hav- 
ing received  his  commission  as  colonel  from  Governor 
Ramsey,  with  authority  to  take  command  of  the  Blue  Earth 
country  extending  from  New  Ulm  to  the  Iowa  line,  em- 
bracing the  western  and  southwestern  frontier  of  the  state, 
proceeded  at  once  to  properly  organize  troops,  commission 
officers,  and  do  everything  in  his  power  as  a  military  offi- 
cer to  give  protection  to  the  citizens.  The  Colonel  estab- 
lished his  headquarters  at  South  Bend  and  the  home  guards 
came  pouring  in,  reporting  for  duty,  and  squads  that  had 
been  raised  and  mustered  into  the  volunteer  service,  but 
had  not  yet  joined  their  commands,  were  organized  into 
companies,  and  the  Colonel  soon  found  himself  surrounded 
by  quite  an  army  of  good  men,  well  officered,  and  with  a 
determination  to  do  their  whole  duty.  This  was  done  by 
establishing  a  cordon  of  military  posts  so  as  to  inspire  con- 
fidence and  prevent  an  exodus  of  the  people.    Any  one 


76 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


t 


who  has  not  been  through  the  ordeal  of  aii  Indian  insur- 
rection can  form  no  idea  of  the  terrible  appreliension  that 
takes  possession  of  a  defenseless  and  non-combatant  peo- 
ple under  such  circumstances. 

Tlie  mystery  and  suspense  attending  an  Indian's  move- 
ments, and  the  certainty  of  the  cruelty  to  his  captives, 
strikes  terror  to  the  heart,  and  upon  the  first  crack  of  his 
rifle  a  thousand  are  put  to  flight.  While  cruelty  is  one  of 
the  natural  characteristics  of  the  Indians,  yet  there  are 
many  among  them  who  have  humane  feelings  and  are  sus- 
ceptible of  Christian  influences.  As  friends,  they  are  of 
the  truest;  but  the  thoughtless  cry  out  as  did  the  enemies 
of  our  Savior:  "Crucify  him!  Crucify  him!"  Other  Day, 
Standing  Buffalo,  Shaska  and  Old  Betz  were  as  true  and 
as  good  people  as  ever  lived,  and  yet  they  '^'*e  held  responsi- 
ble for  the  atrocities  of  their  savage  biothren.  At  the 
risk  of  their  own  lives  they  warned  hundreds  of  people 
and  guided  them  by  night,  and  hid  them  by  day,  until 
finally  they  reached  a  place  of  safety.  At  the  hostile 
camp,  where  they  had  over  four  hundred  women  and  chil- 
dren, it  was  only  through  the  influence  of  these  and 
other  sturdy  friendly  chiefs  that  any  lives  were  saved. 
They  had  to  even  throw  barricades  around  their  tepees 
and  watch  day  and  night  until  the  soldiers  came,  giving 
notice  that  whoever  raised  hand  to  harm  these  d(^fenseless 
people  would  do  it  at  their  peril.  When  we  know  of  these 
kind  acts,  let  us  pause  a  moment  before  we  say  there  arc 
no  good  Indians. 

It  was  a  study  to  look  at  some  of  these  old  dusky  heroes, 
who  said  nothing  but  thought  much,  and  who  had  deter- 
mined that,  come  what  would,  harm  should  not  come  to 
the  captives.     There  were  statesmen,  too,  among  them; 


MINNESO  TA   MA  SSA  CRK—1862. 


77 


men  wise  in  council,  who  had  respect  for  their  Great  Fath- 
er at  Washington,  who  wore  cognizant  of  tlie  fact  that 
mucli  dissatisfaction  was  engendered  among  their  people 
by  occurrences  taking  place  at  the  time  of  the  negotiation 
for  the  treaties.  They  counselled  tlieir  people,  and  no 
doiibt  tried  hard  to  induce  them  to  forsake  their  desire  for 
vengeance  on  the  whites,  and  thus  retard  the  progress  they 
were  making  for  their  offspring  toward  civilization  and  a 
better  manner  of  living. 

You  might  properly  ask  here:  "What  became  of  the 
friendly  Indians  while  the  hostiles  were  on  the  war-path?" 
Some  of  them  forgot  their  friendly  feelings  and,  like  tiie 
whisky  victim,  when  they  got  a  taste  of  blood,  they  wanted 
more!  They  were  all  forced  by  the  hostiles  to  don  their 
war  paint  and  breech-cloth,  and  go  with  them  against  the 
whites,  and  they  were  wise  enough  to  know  that  it  was 
folly  to  resist.  Their  main  object  was  to  prevent  the 
wholesale  murder  of  the  captives,  ^or  when  hostitltios 
opened,  they  knew  if  they  did  not  go,  every  woman  and 
child  in  the  captive  camp  would  be  murdered;  and  the 
friendlies  would  be  blamed  as  much  as  the  hostiles  them- 
selves. .      •' 


m 


1 1 


T8 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


IIBS.  BSTMOK  AND  CiULONU*. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


MRS.  EASTLICK  AND  FAMILY. 


The  note  of  alarm  sounded  throughout  the  neighbor- 
hood and  without  a  moment's  warning  hurried  prepara- 


MIXXKJSOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


79 


tions  were  made  for  the  exodus.  Women  and  cliildren 
and  a  few  hoiLseliold  goods  were  loaded  into  wagons  and  a 
start  made  for  a  place  of  safety.  Indians  suddenly  ap- 
peared and  coninieneed  an  indiscriminate  fire  upon  the  ter- 
ror-stricken refugees. 

The  individual  cases  of  woman's  heroism,  daring,  brav- 
ery, cunning  and  strong-willed  self-sacrifice,  could  be  re- 
counted by  the  score,  and  in  some  instances  are  past  belief. 
Their  achievements  would  be  considered  as  pure  fiction 
but  for  our  own  personal  knowledge.  Many  of  the  real 
occurrences  would  seem  like  legends,  when  the  father  had 
been  murdered  and  the  mother  left  with  two,  three  and 
even  five  and  six  children  to  care  for,  and  if  possible  savo 
them  from  the  ferocity  of  the  painted  red  devils,  whose 
thirst  for  blood  could  seemingly  not  be  satiated.  One 
noted  case  was  the  Eastlick  family,  and  this  was  only  one 
of  a  hundred.  Eleven  men  of  the  party  had  already  been 
killed,  and  Mr.  Eastlick  among  the  number.  The  women 
with  their  children  were  scattered  in  all  directions  in  the 
brush,  to  escape  if  possible  the  inevitable  fate  in  store  for 
them  if  caught.  The  Indians  shouted  to  them  to  come  out 
from  their  hiding  places  and  surrender  and  they  should  be 
spared.  The  remaining  men,  thinking  perhaps  their  lives 
might  be  saved  if  they  surrendered,  urged  their  wives  to 
do  so,  and  the  men  would,  if  possible,  escape  and  give  the 
alarm.  Thus,  without  a  word  or  a  look  lest  they  should 
betray  the  remaining  husbands,  were  these  women  driven 
from  their  natural  protectors  and  obliged  to  submit  to  the 
tender  mercies  of  their  hated  red  captors.  The  supposed 
dead  husbands  w^.tched  the  receding  forms  of  their  devoted 
wives,  whom  in  all  likelihood  they  never  would  see  again. 
Burton  Eastlick,  the  fifteen-year-old  boy,  could  not  endure 


■ 


80 


MINNESOTA    MAJSJSACRE—18e3. 


■J 


'1, 


U 


the  thought  of  leaving  his  mother  to  this  uncertain  fate, 
and  he  followed  her,  but  she  persuaded  him,  for  the  sake 
of  his  fifteen-months-old  baby  brother,  to  leave  her  and 
try  and  make  his  escape,  carrying  the  little  one  with  him. 
And  how  well  did  he  execute  his  mission. 

The  Indians  fired  upon  the  little  group  and  Mrs.  East- 
lick  fell,  wounded  in  thi^ee  peaces,  and  the  boy  rati  away, 
supposing  his  mother  dead;  but  she  revived,  and  crawled 
to  where  her  wounded  husband  and  six-year-old  boy  were, 
to  find  both  dead.  Can  you  picture  such  a  scene  or  im- 
agine what  the  feelings  of  this  poor  mother  must  be  under 
these  awful  circumstances?  Sublime  silence  reigning  over 
earth  and  sky,  and  she  alone  with  her  dead! 

What  a  parting  must  tliat  have  been  from  husband  and 
child — death  and  desolation  co  aplete.  Could  she  look  to 
her  God?  A  heart  of  faith  so  sorely  tried,  and  yet  she 
said:  "I  am  in  His  hands;  surely  I  must  trust  Him,  for  I 
am  yet  alive,  and  two  precious  children,  Turton  and  little 
baby,  are  fleeing  to  a  place  of  safety." 

This  heroic  boy.  Burton,  seeing  his  mother  shot,  and 
supposed  to  be  dead,  and  watching  the  life  flicker  and  the 
spirit  of  his  six-year-old  brother  pass  away,  placed  the 
dear  httle  body  beside  tliat  of  his  father,  and  with  a  brav- 
ery born  of  an  heroic  nature  he  accepted  his  charge,  and 
with  the  injunction  of  his  precious,  dying  mother  still 
ringing  in  his  ears,  made  preparations  to  htart.  It  seemed 
an  herculean  effort,  but  the  brave  boy  said:  "We  may  yet 
be  saved!"  So,  pressing  his  baby  orother  close  to  his 
heart,  he  took  a  la^t  look  upon  the  faces  ol  his  dear  father, 
mother  and  six-year-old  brother  and  started. 

Ninety  miles,  thick  with  dangers,  lay  before  our  young 
hero;  but  he  faltered  not.    When  tired  carrying  his  little 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


brother  in  his  arms  he  took  him  on  his  back.  The  first 
day  he  made  sixteen  miles,  and  in  ten  consecutive  days 
covered  sixty  miles.  He  lived  on  corn  and  such  food  as 
he  could  find  in  deserted  houses.  At  night  his  bed  was 
the  earth,  his  pillow  a  stone,  and  the  sky  his  only  covering, 
the  bright  stars  acting  as  nightly  sentinels  over  him,  as 
weary,  he  and  his  little  baby  charge  slept.  If  angels  have 
a  duty  to  perform,  surely  troops  of  them  must  have  hovered 
around.  He  fed  the  lit*i«  brother  as  best  he  could  to  ap- 
pease his  hunger  and  covered  him  as  with  angel  wings  to 
protect  the  little  trembling  body  from  the  chilly  night  air. 
Brave  boy!  The  pages  of  history  furnish  nothing  more 
noble  than  this  deed,  and  if  you  yet  live,  what  a  consola- 
tion, what  a  proud  reflection,  to  know  that  there  never 
before  was  witnessed  a  deed  more  deserving  of  immortal 
fame. 

"Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror  by  night,  nor 
for  the  arrow  that  flyeth  by  day."  The  resolute  mother, 
badly  wounded  and  left  for  dead,  revived.  She  looked 
upon  the  face  of  her  dead  husband  and  little  boy,  and 
with  sublime  courage  started  for  a  place  of  safety.  At  the 
risk  of  being  discovered  and  murdered — hungry,  tired,  with 
wounds  undressed  and  a  heavy,  aching  heart  and  deathly 
sick,  she  was  obliged  to  lie  by  for  some  time,  after  which 
she  again  started,  and  for  ten  days  and  nights  this  poor 
sorrow-stricken  woman  traveled  on  her  weary  way. 

Providence  led  her  in  the  path  of  a  mail  carrier  on  a 
route  from  Sioux  Falls  City,  in  Dakota,  to  New  Ulm, 
Minnesota.  He  had  formerly  known  her,  but  in  her 
emaciated,  jaded,  pitiful  condition  the  change  was  so  great 
he  did  not  recognize  her. 

A^  New  Ulm  she  found  her  children,  where  they  were 


82. 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


„ 


Leing  kindly  cared  for,  having  been  found,  in  the  tall  grass 
nearly  dead  from  exposure  and  starvation.  Thus  the  re- 
maining portion  of  the  family  were  reunited  on  earth,  and 
it  is  proper  to  here  draw  the  curtain  and  allow  them  a  few 
moments  for  communion,  that  the  fountain  of  the  heart 
which  had  been  dried  \\\)  by  the  awful  occurrences  of  the 
previous  few  days  might  unbidden  flow.  The  mother's 
iieart  was  nearly  cru.>^hed  with  the  thought  of  husband  and 
child — victims  of  the  ferocious  Iiulians,  killed  and  yet  un- 
buried  on  the  prairie  nearly  one  hundred  miles  away;  but, 
rnqther-Iike,  she  rejoiced  in  finding  the  two  children  who 
had  wandered  so  far  and  through  a  kind  Providence  es- 
caped so  many  dangers. 


I-'\M 


I 


i 


"r 


If 


11'' 


:  I 


:! 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


85 


CIIAPTEK  XITI. 


THE  MISSIONARIES— THEIR  ESCAPE. 


A  few  miles  above  the  Yellow  jNIedicine  were  the 
churches  and  schools  of  the  liev.  S.  1?.  Kiggs  and  Dr. 
Williamson.  Both  of  these  gentlemen  had  long  been  mis- 
sionaries among  the  Indians  and  had  gained  their  confi- 
dence; and  in  return  had  placed  the  most  implicit  confi- 
dence in  them.  But  these  good  men  had  been  warned  to 
flee  for  their  lives,  and  they  reluctantly  gathered  together 
a  few  household  treasures,  and  placing  themselves  and 
fami'ies  under  the  guidance  of  Providence,  started  for  a 
place  of  safety.  Fort  Ridgely  was  their  objective  point, 
but  they  learned  that  the  place  was  being  besieged  and  that 
it  would  be  unsafe  to  proceed  further  in  this  direction,  so 
turned  their  weary  hte})s  toward  Henderson,  Zlinnesota. 

With  courage  braced  up,  weary  in  body  and  anxious  in 
mind,  they  went  into  camp  until  the  morning.  "The  pil- 
lar of  cloud  by  day,  and  the  pillar  of  fire  by  night,"  guided 
tliis  anxious  band  tlirough  a  most  trying  and  perilous  jour- 
ney, but  they  gained  the  settlement  at  last  and  were  among 
friends.  In  leaving  their  little  homes,  wliere  they  had 
found  so  nuuh  pleasure  in  the  work  of  the  Master,  in 
pointing  the  Indians  to  a  1)etter  way  of  living,  th<y  were 
sorrowful;  but,  like  Abraham  of  old,  faithful  m  their  alle- 
gianc'j  to  God,  not  daring  to  question  TTis  ways  in  compell- 
ing them  to  turn  their  l)aeks  iii>on  their  clio  en  work — 


i 


86 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 186^. 


His  work.  The  missionaries  and  teachers  formed  strong 
attachments  among  this  dusky  race.  In  their  communion 
with  them  they  found  them  ready  and  eager  to  converse 
about  the  Groat  Spirit  and  to  learn  of  the  wonderful  tilings 
taught  in  the  Bible.  They  loved  to  sing,  and  the  melody 
of  sacred  song  found  a  responsive  chord  in  their  souls  as 
they  were  gradually  emerging  from  their  barbarous  con- 
dition, and  coming  into  the  full  light  of  a  Christian  salva- 
tion. In  conversation  with  the  writer,  Mr.  Iflggs  once 
said  that  as  he  was  passing  one  of  their  happy  little  homes 
he  could  hear  the  squaw  mother,  in  her  peculiar  plaintive 
tones,  singing  to  her  little  children: 

"Jesus  Christ,  nitowashte  kin 
Woptccashni  mayaqu" — 
Jesus  Christ,  Thy  Loving  Kindness, 
Boundlessly,  Thou  Givest  Me. 

She  had  become  a  Christian  mother  through  the  teach- 
ings of  the  missionaries.  Her  maternal  affection  was  as 
deep  and  abiding  as  in  the  breast  of  her  more  favored 
white  sister,  and  her  eye  of  faith  looked  beyond  the  stars 
to  the  happy  hunting  ground,  where  the  Greater  Spirit 
abides,  and  with  the  assurance  that  some  day  she  and  all 
her  race  would  stand  with  the  redeemed  in  the  presence 
of  the  Judge  of  all  the  worlds.  The  Christian  missionary 
felt  for  these  people  as  no  one  else  could;  and,  while  not 
trying  nor  desiring  to  excuse  them  for  their  unholy  war 
against  the  whites,  yet  they  could  not  persuade  themselves 
to  believe  that  they  had  been  justly  dealt  with  by  civilized 
America. 


'  1 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


87 


i 


ITTTLB  PAIJL. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


THE   INDIAN   POW-WOW. 


The  Indians  of  the  various  tribes  of  tho  Fppor  and 
Lower  Sioux — the  Sissitons,  tho  Tetons,  the  Yanktons 
and  the  Yanktonnais  and  other  tribes  held  a  pow-wow  to 
try  and  force  a  conchision  of  the  war,  and  some  of  their 
ablest  men,  their  statesmen,  were  present,  and  their  views 
you  have  here  verbatim.  More  decorum  prevailed  amonfjf 
them,  and  they  were  more  deliberate  than  is  observed  in  the 


ir 


dd 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862 


I 


iif 


average  white  man's  convention.  Little  Crow  had  his  sup- 
porters present,  and  a  very  fluent  Yanktonnais  Sioux  traced 
on  the  ground  a  map  of  the  country,  showing  the  course 
of  the  Missouri  River  and  the  locality  of  the  different 
forts.  He  marked  out  the  mountains,  seas  and  oceans,  and 
stated  that  an  army,  great  in  numbers,  was  coming  from 
across  the  country  to  assist  them.  This  gave  rise  to  the 
unfounded  rumor  referred  to  in  anothej  chapter,  that  emis- 
saries from  the  South  were  among  them  to  incite  them 
to  war. 

John  Paul,  or  Little  Paul,  was  friendly  to  the  whites, 
and  in  a  speech  to  the  Indians  at  this  pow-wow  said: 

"I  am  friendly  to  the  whites,  and  will  deliver  these 
women  and  children  at  Fort  Ridgely.  I  am  opposed  to  the 
war  on  the  whites.  You  say  you  are  brave  men,  and  can 
whip  the  whites.  That  is  a  lie — persons  who  cut  women 
and  children's  throats  are  not  brave.  You  are  squaws  and 
cowards.  Fight  the  whites  if  you  want  to,  but  do  it  like 
brave  men.  I  am  ashamed  of  the  wav  vou  have  acted 
towards  the  captives;  and,  if  any  of  you  have  the  feelings 
of  men,  you  will  give  them  up.  You  may  look  fierce  at 
me,  but  I  am  not  afraid  of  vou." 

Red  Iron,  one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Upper  Indians,  was 
not  friendly.  He  was  one  of  the  principal  chiefs  of  the 
Sissitons,  and  at  one  time  was  so  outspoken  against  the 
whites  that  Governor  Ramsey,  who  was  then  Super- 
intendent of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  at  the  agency,  had 
occasion  to  rebuke  him  in  a  substantial  way — he  reduced 
him  to  the  ranks.  In  other  words,  he  broke  him  of  his 
chief tianship.    This  was  in  December,  1852. 

Red  Iron  was  a  handsome  Indian,  an  athlete,  six  feet 
in  his  moccasins,  with  a  large,  well-developed  head,  aquiline 


■ 


11 


MlNNEi^OTA  MAi^SACRE—1862. 


6d 


nose,  thin  lips,  but  with  iutelhgence  and  resolution  beam- 
ing all  over  his  countenance. 

When  brought  into  the  presence  of  Governor  Ramsey  he 
walked  with  a  firm,  lordly  tread,  and  was  chul  in  lialf  mili- 
tary and  half  Indian  costume.    When  he  came  in  he  seated 


J>  --V\s-' 


BID  IBON. 


himself  in  silence,  which  was  not  broken  until  throuf]:h  nn 
interpreter  the  Governor  asked  him  what  e\TU«e  he  hail 
to  offer  for  not  coming  to  the  council  when  sent  for. 
Red  Iron,  when  he  arose  to  his  feet  to  reply,  did  so  with 


Ml 


\ 


90 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


V: 


I 


! 
?    I 


ill' 
f 


a  Chesteifieldian  grace,  allowing  his  blanket  to  fall  from 
his  shoulders,  and,  intentionally  dropping  his  pipe  of  peace. 
He  stood  before  the  Governor  for  a  moment  in  silence, 
with  his  arms  folded,  his  bearing  betraying  perfect  self- 
composure,  a  defiant  smile  playing  upon  his  lips.  In  a 
firm  voice  he  said: 

Ked  Iron— "I  started  to  come,  but  your  braves  drove  me 
back." 

Governor — "What  excuse  have  you  for  not  coming  the 
second  time  I  sent  for  you?" 

Red  Iron — "No  other  excuse  than  I  have  already  given 
you." 

When  the  Governor,  as  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs, 

informed  this  proud  chief  that,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  he 

would  .break  him  of  his  chief  tianship  it  appealed  to  his 

pride,  and  he  said: 

"You  break  me?    I  was  elected  chief  by  my  tribe.    You 

can't  break  me." 

The  chief,  while  surrendering  to  the  powers  that  be, 
never  felt  friendly  to  the  whites,  and  during  this  war  of 
which  we  write  he  continued  stubborn  and  sullen  to  the 
end. 

Standing  Buffalo,  hereditary  chief  of  the  Sissitons,  was 
a  different  type,  and  counselled  living  in  peace,  but  desired 
fair  treatment  and  honest  dealings  with  his  people.  He 
was  a  handsome  Indian,  and  a  man  of  rare  ability.  General 
Sibley  was  anxious  to  know  how  he  felt  on  the  important 
question  agitating  the  Sioux  Nation,  and  desired  his  co- 
operation in  liberating  the  captives  and  compassing  the 
capture  of  Little  Crow  and  his  followers.  At  this  Indian 
convention  this  noted  chief  said: 

"I  am  a  young  man,  but  I  have  always  felt  friendly 


i  t,    ! 


Ikt;  •••»« 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862, 


91 


toward  the  whites,  hecause  they  were  kind  to  my  father. 
You  have  Lrought  me  into  great  (hiiigcr  without  my  kiu)\vi- 
edge  of  it  beforehand.  \\\  killing  tiie  wliites,  it  is  just  as 
if  you  had  waited  for  me  in  ambush  and  shot  me  down. 


STAHSXNO  BUFFALO. 


You  Lower  Indians  feel  bad  because  we  liave  all  got  into 
this  trouble;  but  1  feel  worse,  because  I  know  that  neither 
I  nor  my  people  have  killed  any  of  the  whites,  and  that  yet 
we  have  to  suffer  with  tlie  guilt  v.  I  was  out  butfalo  hunt- 
ii)^  when  I  heard  of  the  outbreak,  and  I  felt  as  if  I  wa§ 


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92 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


dead,  and  I  feel  so  now.  You  all  know  that  the  Indians 
cannot  live  without  the  aid  of  the  white  man,  and,  there- 
fore, 1  have  made  up  my  mind  that  Paul  is  right,  and  my 
Indians  will  stand  by  him.  We  claim  this  reservation. 
What  are  you  doing  here?  If  you  want  to  light  the  whites, 
go  back  and  fight  them.  Leave  my  village  at  Big  Stone 
Lake.  You  sent  word  to  my  young  men  to  come  down, 
and  that  you  had  plenty  of  oxen,  horses,  goods,  powder 
and  lead,  and  now  we  see  nothing.  We  are  going  back  to 
Big  Stone  Lake  and  leave  you  to  fight  the  whites.  Those 
who  make  peace  can  say  that  Standing  Buffalo  and  his 
people  will  give  themselves  up  in  the  spring." 

They  kept  their  word,  and  would  have  nothing  to  do 
with  Little  Crow. 

Standing  Buffalo  Avas  killed  in  1863  by  an  accident. 

Other  Day,  a  civilized  Indian,  in  addressing  the  council 
at  this  time,  said: 

"You  can,  of  course,  easily  kill  a  few  unarmed  whites, 
but  it  would  be  a  co'vardly  thing  to  do,  because  we  have 
gained  their  confidence,  and  the  innocent  will  suft'er  with 
the  guilty,  and  the  great  Father  at  Washington  will  send 
his  soldiers  to  punish  you,  and  we  will  all  suff'er.  I  will 
not  Join  you  in  this,  but  will  help  defend  these  white  people 
who  have  always  been  our  friends." 

Other  Day  was  a  true  friend  of  the  whites;  he  looked 
it.  He  was  a  full-blood  Indian,  it  is  true,  and  the  Indians 
res])ected  and  feared  him,  but  his  desire  to  forsake  the 
barbarous  teachings  of  his  father  inclined  him  towards 
the  unsuspecting  settlers. 

In  1863  he  was  General  Sibley's  most  trusted  and  con- 
fidential scout.  In  the  early  outbreak  Other  Day  mani- 
fested his  loyalty  to  his  white  friends  by  risking  his  life 


i      i 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


93 


in  their  defense,  piloting  sixty  people  through  the  river 
bottoms  during  the  nights  to  a  place  of  safety.  He  trav- 
eled with  his  charge  in  the  night,  and  hid  them  in  under- 
brush during  the  daytime.  He  was  a  true-hearted,  kind 
man,  with  a  red  skin,  who  has  gone  to  his  reward  in  a  land 
where  there  are  no  reds,  no  blacks,  but  where  all  are  white. 

Little  Crow,  who  is  one  of  the  principal  characters  in 
this  narrative,  was  an  Indian  of  no  mean  ability.  He  was 
the  commander-in-chief  of  the  hostile  tribes,  and  wielded 
a  powerful  influence  among  all  the  tribes  of  this  great 
Sioux  Nation.  He  was  a  powerful  man,  and  felt  his  lordly 
position;  was  confident  of  final  success,  and  very  defiant 
at  the  outset.  He  had  a  penchant  for  notoriety  in  more 
ways  than  one.  In  dress  he  was  peculiar,  and  could  nearly 
always  be  found  with  some  parts  of  a  white  man's  clothing. 
He  was  particularly  conspicuous  in  the  style  of  collar  he 
wore;  happy  in  the  possession  of  one  of  the  old-style  stand- 
ing collars,  such  as  Daniel  Webster  and  other  old-time 
gentlemen  bedecked  themselves  with.  He  also  possessed 
a  black  silk  neckerchief  and  a  black  frock  coat,  and  on 
grand  occasions  wore  both. 

He  had  strongly  marked  features,  and  in  studying  the 
lineaments  of  his  face  one  would  not  adjudge  him  a  par- 
ticularly bad  Indian.  As  we  had  hundreds  of  these  men 
in  our  custody,  a  good  opportunity  was  offered  while  guard- 
ing them  to  try  one's  gift  as  a  reader  of  character  as 
stamped  in  the  face,  but  Little  Crow  proved  an  enigma. 
It  was  liko  a  novice  trying  to  separate  good  money  from 
bad,  an  unprofitable  and  unsuccessful  task.  Little  Crow 
said: 

"It  is  impossible  to  make  ])eace  if  we  so  desired.  Did  we 
ever  do  the  jnost  trifling  thing,  the  whites  would  hang  u§. 


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94 


MINNESOTA    3IASSACRE—1862, 


Now,  we  have  been  killing  them  by  the  hundreds  in  Dakota, 
Minnesota  and  Iowa,  and  1  know  if  they  get  us  into  their 
hands  they  will  hang  every  one  of  us.  As  for  me,  I  will 
kill  as  many  of  them  as  I  can,  and  fight  them  till  I  die. 
Do  not  think  you  will  eiicape.  There  is  not  a  band  of  In- 
dians from  the  Eedwood  Agency  to  Big  Stone  Lake  that 
has  not  had  some  of  its  members  embroiled  in  this  war. 
I  tell  you  we  must  fight  and  perish  together.  A  man  is  a 
fool  and  coward  who  thinks  otherwise,  and  who  will  desert 
his  nation  at  such  a  time.  Disgrace  not  yourselves  by  a 
surrender  to  t])ose  who  will  hang  you  up  like  dogs;  but 
die,  if  die  you  must,  with  arms  in  your  hands,  like  warriors 
and  braves  of  the  Dakotas." 

In  one  of  our  battles  we  took  some  fine-looking  bucks 
prisoners,  and  the  soldiers  were  for  scalping  them  at  once, 
but  we  had  a  little  "pow-wow"  with  them,  and  found  them 
intelligent  and  well  educated;  they  were  students  home 
on  a  vacation  from  Bishop  Whipple's  school  at  Faribault, 
Minnesota,  and  said  they  were  forced,  much  against  their 
will,  to  go  on  the  warpath;  that  they  had  not  fired  a  bullet 
at  the  whites;  that  they  fired  blank  cartridges  because  they 
felt  friendly  to  the  whites,  and  had  no  desire  t*!^  kill  them. 
There  were  three  of  them;  we  told  them  they  could  take 
their  choice — be  shot  or  enlist;  they  chose  the  latter,  and 
Avent  South  with  us,  staying  until  the  close  of  the  Rebellion, 
and  they  displayed  the  courage  of  the  born  soldier 


TV 
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Brevet  Ma^job  General  H.  H.  Sibley, 
Commander  in  the  field  in  1862  and  1863  against  the  Sioux  Indians. 


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MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


97 


CHAPTER  XV. 


GOV.  SIBLEY  APPOINTED  COMMANDER. 


i 


While  these  scenes  which  I  have  related  were  being 
enacted  in  the  upper  country  excitement  ran  high  at  St. 
Paul,  and  for  a  time  the  great  struggle  then  going  on  in  the 
South  was  forgotten.  The  news  of  the  outbreak  soon 
reached  St.  Paul,  and  couriers,  with  horses  covered  with 
foam,  kept  coming  in  one  after  another,  until  the  officers 
at  Fort  Snelling  were  ordered  by  Governor  Eamsey  to  be 
in  readiness  with  their  men  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice, 
and  we  did  not  have  long  to  wait. 

The  Sixth  Minnesota,  of  which  I  was  a  member,  had  just 
organized,  and  was  assigned  to  Hancock  corps,  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  but  the  events  transpiring  in  the  Indian 
country  made  it  necessary  for  ah  available  troops  to  go 
there.  When  I  say  that  the  whole  country  was  seething 
with  excitement  it  is  no  exaggeration.  The  towns,  big  and 
little,  were  filled  with  frightened  refugees;  the  rumors  that 
came  in  were  of  the  most  frightful  nature,  and  the  whole 
state  was  clamorous  for  protection. 

Governor  Ramsey,  in  his  desire  to  protect  the  panic- 
stricken  people  and  liberate  the  captives,  cast  about  for  a 
suitable  commander  for  this  important  work.  Of  all  the 
men  in  and  about  St.  Paul  who  seemed  eminently  qualified 
for  this  position,  Gpv^rjiPF  Henry  H.  Sibley,  who  at  that 


98 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


:  h; 


i  /, 


II 


time  was  living  in  quietude  in  his  home  in  Mendota,  just 
across  the  river  from  the  fort,  was  his  choice. 

Governor  Henry  Hastings  Sibley,  the  hero  of  these 
Indian  campaigns,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Detroit  Febru- 
ary 20,  1811.  His  sire  was  Chief  Justice  Solomon  Sibley, 
of  Detroit,  and  his  mother  was  Sarah  Whipple  Sproat, 
whose  father,  (Lionel  Ebenezer  Sproat,  was  an  accom- 
plished officer  of  the  Continental  army,  and  the  grand- 
daughter of  Commodore  Abraham  Whipple,  an  illustrious 
commander  in  the  Continental  navy.  He  came  from  a 
long  line  of  illustrious  ancestry  on  both  sides,  of  good 
Puritan  stock,  and  dating  his  lineage  back  to  the  Sibleys  of 
William  the  Conqueror  of  England  in  the  fifteenth  century. 

He  was  not  a  fighter;  his  heart  was  too  tender  for  that, 
but  he  felt  the  weighty  responsibility  he  had  assumed  when 
he  consented  to  lead  the  soldiers  and  save  the  lives  of  the 
captives.  For  delaying  he  was  denounced  on  all  hands. 
The  press  denounced  him  for  not  falling  immediately  upon 
the  Indians;  but  he  knew  the  enemy  better  than  his  cen- 
sors. If  he  had  heeded  the  behests  of  the  clamorous  people 
not  a  captive  would  have  been  spared;  but  to-day  hundreds 
live  to  bless  him  for  his  cautions,  conservative  movements. 
Until  his  death,  which  occur^.d  but  a  few  months  since, 
he  lived  in  his  beautiful  home  in  St.  Paul;  and,  although 
a  half  century  of  winters  in  the  far  Northwest  had  whitened 
his  head,  and  a  great  deal  more  than  a  half  century  of  time 
had  made  his  limbs  tremble,  neither  time  nor  frost  had 
sapped  the  citadel  of  his  mind.  He  was  a  member  of 
Aker  Post,  No.  21,  Department  of  Minnesota,  and  the 
comrades,  in  deference  to  his  declining  years,  went  in  a 
body  to  his  beautiful  home  where  he  was  mustered  in.  He 
lived  in  peace  and  plenty,  surrounded  by  his  family  and 


MINNESOTA    MASl^ACRE—1862. 


99 


friends,  who  eslcemcd  him  for  his  worth.  He  passed  away 
respected  and  regretted  by  a  host  of  friends  throughout  the 
land,  w  ho  knew  liim  as  a  citizen  and  a  soldier.  1  knew  him 
personally  and  intimately  since  1857;  rnd  in  his  death, 
with  others  great  in  our  nation's  history,  we  are  reminded 
that  in  war  the  bullet  is  no  respecter  of  rank;  the  com- 
mander and  the  soldier  fall  together. 

Governor  Sibley  was  commissioned  by  Governor  Eamsey 
as  Colonel  of  Volunteers,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  expedition.  He  was  selected  because  he  had  spent 
many  years  of  his  life  among  the  Indians  as  a  trader,  he 
spoke  their  language,  he  knew  them  personally,  and  knew 
their  characteristics.  He  was  a  man  of  large  experience, 
education  and  ability,  and  possessed,  withal,  a  cool  head. 
He  knew  the  Indians,  and  they  knew  him  and  respected 
him.  He  consented  to  lead  the  forces  against  the  Indians 
when  appealed  to  by  Governor  Ramsey,  upon  conditions 
that  he  should  not  be  interfered  with  by  His  Excellency, 
or  any  one  else,  and  that  he  should  have  adequate  supplies 
of  men,  stores  and  transportation.  Colonel  Sibley,  after- 
wards Brigadier  and  Brevet  Major-General  of  Volunteers, 
with  his  staff  and  Companies  A,  B,  and  E,  of  the  Sixth 
Minnesota  Infantry,  embarked  on  a  small  steamer  then  at 
anchor  near  the  fort,  and  steamed  up  the  Minnesota  river 
to  Shakopee,  distant  about  forty  miles  by  water.  We 
started  in  a  furious  rain,  and  after  a  slow  trip  up  the  nar- 
row and  winding  Minnesota,  arrived  at  Shakopee,  where 
we  found  the  frightened  citizens  ready  to  receive  us  with 
open  arms,  although  all  the  firearms  we  had  vrere  worthless 
and  condemned  Austrian  rifles,  without  ammunition  to  fit 
them.  All  serviceable  material  of  war  had  been  shipped 
to  the  South.    Our  first  guard  duty  was  on  picket  in  the 


Ft 


If    !i 


loo 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRi:~186t 


suburbs  of  Shakopee,  and  our  instructions  were  to  press 
all  teams  into  the  service.  We  felt  the  gravity  of  the  situa- 
tion, and  obeyed  orders  to  the  letter  as  nearly  as  we,  raw 
recruits,  could.  While  here  the  news  was  spread  that  In- 
dians were  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  women  and  children 
began  to  flock  to  the  vicinity  of  the  soldiers;  the  alarm  was 
without  foundation.  As  we  were  stationed  on  the  various 
roads  leading  to  and  from  the  town,  the  citizens  who  had 
been  so  badly  scared  seemed  to  feel  comparatively  safe. 
The  news  from  the  upper  country,  however,  was  discour- 
aging, and  appeals  for  protection  very  urgent.  AVe  could 
not  move  at  once  from  lack  of  transportation,  and  had  no 
adequate  supplies,  either  of  food,  arms  or  ammunition,  for 
we  had  been  so  hurriedly  dispatched  from  Fort  Snelling 
that  only  about  half  of  one  company  had  been  supplied 
with  even  the  worthless  muskets  spoken  of,  and  the  whole 
command  with  but  two  days'  rations.  It  was  necessary, 
however,  to  make  ^""^^'  quick  demonstration  to  appease 
the  panic-stricken  p.  ;.  After  a  delay  of  one  day,  by 
various  routes  by  land  and  water,  the  regiment  concen- 
trated at  St.  Peter,  under  command  of  Colonel  William 
Crooks,  where  it  was  inspected  and  remained  four  or  five 
days,  awaiting  the  receipt  of  suitable  arms  and  ammunition 
and  also  reinforcements. 

Our  guns  were  so  absolutely  worthless  that  it  was  neces- 
sary to  delay  a  little,  as  the  Indians,  in  large  numbers,  were 
then  besieging  Fort  Ridgely,  and  were  well  armed  with 
Springfield  rifles,  while  our  own  arms  were  condemned 
Austrian  muskets. 

We  embarked  on  a  boat  at  Shakopee  and  sailed  up  to 
Carver,  forty  miles  above,  and  there  pressed  in  teams  to 
carry  us  through  what  was  known  as  the  "Big  Woods." 


-laagwiwWiAVMt 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


101 


It  had  been  raining  for  days,  and  the  town  of  Carver  was 
literally  packed  with  refugees.  There  was  not  an  empty 
building  in  it,  even  the  warehouses  were  filled,  and  the 
muddv  streets  were  a  sight  to  behold.  The  mud  was  ankle 
deep,  and  you  may  imagine  in  what  condition  everything 
was.    I  cannot  describe  it. 

The  frightened  people,  who  had  flocked  in  from  all  the 
country  round,  told  most  woeful  tales  of  Indian  atrocities. 
In  some  cases  they  were  overdrawn,  but  later  on  we  saw 
evidences  enough  to  warrant  them  fleeing  to  a  place  of 
safety.  There  was  no  safety,  however,  in  coming  to  these 
small  towns,  for  they  were  without  protection. 

After  loading  up  the  teams,  we  started  through  the  "Big 
Woods,"  and  the  roads  were  in  such  a  horrible  condition 
that  we  made  but  slow  progrcvss.  However,  we  had  to  make 
Glencoe,  twenty-five  miles  distant,  before  night  or  camp 
down  in  the  woods  in  the  mud.  It  became  pitchy  dark,  but 
we  kept  on  the  move,  and  in  time  got  through  the  woods 
and  could  see  the  lights  of  Glencoe  afar  off.  This  was  only 
a  small  place,  but  the  twinkling  lights  from  the  houses 
were  a  pleasant  sight,  and  when  we  arrived  there  the  people 
were  glad  to  see  us.  We  remained  over  night,  and  the  next 
day  started  for  St.  Peter.  We  could  see  evidences  of  Indian 
devastation  in  every  direction,  among  which  were  the  burn- 
ing buildings  and  grain  stacks  on  the  beautiful  neighboring 
farms. 

On  the  route  to  St.  Peter,  which  we  reached  early  in  the 
evening,  we  discovered  a  few  dead  settlers,  and  took  some 
families  along  with  us.  Upon  our  arrival  we  went  into 
camp  with  the  rest  of  the  command,  and  were  soon  placed 
under  strict  military  discipline,  and  in  a  brief  time  our 


i 


102 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


comniaiuler,  Colonel    William    Crooks,  a    West    Poiiik'r, 
brought  order  out  of  chaos. 

Of  the  pre|)arati()n  and  forward  march  to  relieve  Fort 
llidgely  1  will  reserve  for  anotlier  chapter. 


^ 


MINNESOTA   MASSArnE—1862. 


103 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


MARCH  TO  FORT  RIDGELY. 


In  the  interval  the  companies  were  drilled  and  the  com- 
mand otherwise  prepared  to  act  effeclively  a<rainst  the 
formidable  body  of  hostile  warriors,  who  were  well  armed 
and  plentifully  supplied  with  powder  and  ball.  Colonel 
Sibley,  having  looked  the  ground  over  with  a^critical  eye, 
uninfluenced  by  the  public  clamor  and  fault-finding  of 
the  press,  remained  firm  in  the  determination  not  to  take 
the  field  until  assured  of  success  in  his  operations.  He 
knew  the  Indians  well,  and  knew  it  was  necessary  to  fight 
or  failure,  there  would  be  no  adequate  barrier  to  the  de- 
scent of  the  savages  upon  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis,  and 
the  desolation  of  the  state  generally.  The  Chippewas  on 
the  north  were  known  to  be  in  secret  communication  with 
Little  Crow,  the  head  of  the  Sioux  hordes,  and  ready  to 
them  cautiously  if  he  would  succeed,  for,  in  case  of  defeat 
co-operate  with  him  if  victorious,  while  the  Winnebagos 
were  also  in  active  sympathy  with  him,  for  two  or  three  of 
their  warriors  were  found  among  the  dead  after  the  battle 
of  Wood  Lake,  which  occurred  later  on.  Arms,  ammuni- 
tion and  supplies  arriving,  we  took  up  the  line  of  march 
for  Fort  Ridgely,  which  was  then  in  a  state  of  seige.  Our 
advent  at  the  Fort  was  hailed  with  delight,  for  the  little 


1:'  ' 


if' 


104 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


garrison  was  pretty  well  tired  out  with  the  fighting  and 
watching  that  they  had  had  on  their  hands  for  the  eight 
days  previous.  Barricades  had  been  erected  at  all  weak 
points,  but  the  Indians  so  far  outnumbered  the  soldiers 
that  they  approached  near  enough  to  fire  the  wooden  build- 
ings of  the  fort  proper  in  many  places. 

Our  march  to  Fort  Ridgely  was  the  first  we  had  made 
as  an  entire  organization,  and  under  an  able  commanding 
officer  we  profited  by  it.  On  the  way  we  found  the  dead 
body  of  a  colored  man  from  St.  Paul  by  the  name  of  Tay- 
lor. He  was  a  bar])er  by  trade,  but  also  quite  a  noted 
gambler,  and  had  been  up  to  the  agency  to  get  his  share 
of  the  money  when  the  Indians  got  their  pay. 

He  played  one  game  too  many,  and  lost — his  life. 

Before  we  reached  the  Fort  the  Indians  took  alarm  and 
sullenly  retreated  upon  our  approach,  after  having  done  all 

possible  damage  to  men  and  property.  As  we  entered,  the 
brave  httle  garrison  accompanied  by  the  women  and  chil- 
dren turned  out  to  greet  us,  and  a  right  joyous  time  we 
had.  A  detachment  of  thirty  men  of  the  Fifth  Minnesota, 
under  Captain  Marsh,  the  commander  of  the  fort,  upon 
receipt  of  news  of  the  outbreak,  had  marched  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Lower  Sioux  Agency,  distant  a  few  miles.  The 
Indians,  perceiving  the  advance  of  this  small  detachment, 
placed  themselves  in  ambush  in  the  long  grass  at  the  cross- 
ing of  the  Minnesota  River  and  awaited  the  oncoming  of 
their  unsuspecting  victims,  and,  when  in  the  toils,  they 
opened  a  terrific  fire  upon  them,  which  destroyed  almost 
the  entire  party. 

Colonel  Sibley  hurried  forward  supplies  and  ammunition 
for  an  extensive  campaign,  for,  from  his  knowledge  of  the 
Indians,  he  knew  it  was  no  boy's  play.    The  moving  spirit 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE:— 1862. 


105 


among  the  hostiles  was  Little  Crow,  a  wily  old  chief,  with- 
out principle,  but  active  and  intiuential.  He  had  harangued 
his  people  into  the  belief  that  the  fight  going  on  among  the 
whites  in  the  South  had  drawn  off  all  the  able-bodied  men, 
leaving  none  but  old  men,  women  and  children.  "Now," 
he  said,  "is  the  time  to  strike  for  Minnesota.  These  fertile 
fields,  stolen  from  us,  are  ours;  the  buffalo  are  gone;  we 
have  no  food,  and  our  women  and  children  are  starving. 
Let  the  wamors  assemble  in  war  paint  and  drive  the  pale- 
faces from  the  face  of  the  earth!"  He  told  his  people  they 
could  pitch  their  wigwams  the  coming  winter  in  St.  Paul 
and  hold  high  carnival  in  the  legislative  halls.  So  wide- 
spread had  the  alarm  became  that  it  reached  St.  Paul  and 
Minneapolis,  and  "minute  men"  were  on  duty  on  the  bluffs 
adjacent  for  several  days.  In  addition  to  the  Sioux,  the 
Chippewas  and  Winnebagos  were  becoming  very  restless, 
and  this  caused  additional  uneasiness  in  the  two  cities. 

Colonel  Sibley,  upon  his  arrival  of  the  fort,  sent  out 
scouts  to  ascertain  the  whereabouts  of  the  Indians.  The 
news  they  brought  was  that  a  large  camp  of  hostiles  was 
located  above  the  Yellow  Medicine,  where  they  held  as 
captives  about  four  hundred  white  women  and  children, 
and  one  white  man.  They  also  reported  that  the  Indians 
were  preparing  to  make  a  raid  on  the  small  towns  below 
the  fort. 

It  was  also  known  that  a  large  number  of  citizens  who 
had  been  killed  near  the  agency  were  yet  unburied,  and 
the  fate  of  Captain  Marsh  and  his  men  was  in  doubt. 
To  this  end  a  small  command  was  organized,  as  narrated  in 
another  chapter,  to  go  out  to  bury  the  dead  and  reheve 
Captain  Marsh  and  his  men  if  they  were  found  alive. 


{{',< 


11^  i 


I 


106 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862 


\;  '■ 


CnAPTEH  XVII. 


1    ■ 


BURIAL  OF  CAPT.  MARSH  AND  MEN. 


1 1 


•J 

Company  "A,"  of  tlie  Sixth  Minnesota,  toofether  with 
two  men  each  from  tlio  other  companies,  were  detailed  to 
accomi)an3"  a  burial  party,  with  instructions  to  properly 
bury  all  bodies  found,  and,  if  possible,  ascertain  the  fate  of 
(*aptain  ]\[ar,-ii  and  his  thirty  men,  who  had  gone  out  to 
intercept  the  Indians  at  the  Kedwood  Crossing.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  detail  we  had  a  small  detachment  of  citizen 
cavalry,  under  Ca])tnin  Joe  Anderson,  to  act  as  scouts. 

Our  little  command  nund^ered,  all  told,  153 — infantry, 
cavalry  and  teamsters — and  ninetv-six  horses,  including 
twenty  teams  taken  along  to  carry  camp  and  garrison  equip- 
age, rations  and  ammunition,  and  to  transport  qui 
wounded,  either  soldiers  or  citizens.  The  expedition  was 
inider  the  immediate  command  of  Captain  IT.  P.  Grant,  of 
Comi)any  A.  Major  Joseph  K.  Brown,  better  known  as 
"Old  Joe  Brown,"  was  in  charge  of  the  scouts,  lie  had  a 
cool  head,  but  no  figh.ting  qualities;  had  been  an  Indian 
trader  for  manv  years,  raised  an  Indian  family,  and  knew 
a  great  deal  about  Indian  signs  and  customs.  In  this  par- 
ticular case,  however,  the  Indians  fooled  Joe.  The  first  day 
out  we  found  and  buried  about  fifty  citizens,  and  at  night 
went  into  camp  in  the  river  bottom  near  Kedwood  Crossing. 
The  ni^lit  was  dark  and  dismal,  and  particularly  sad  to  us 


)!)| 


? 


^ 


CD 


o 

a 

09 


ill 
ii 


I'i"  i 


i 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


109 


who  had  been  gathering  up  the  dead  all  day  long.  The 
instructions  to  the  guard  by  Captain  Anderson  were  of  a 
very  solemn  nature,  in  view  of  the  surroundings  and  the 
probable  fighting  ahead.  This,  together  with  the  stillness 
of  the  night  and  the  impression  that  a  lurking  foe  was 
near,  made  the  boys  feel  rather  uncomfortable. 

Deep  sleep  settled  upon  the  camp,  but  the  sentinels 
maintained  a  vigilant  watch,  however,  and  the  night  slowly 
passed  without  incident.  After  reveille  the  next  morning 
we  found  Captain  Marsh  and  his  comrades,  but  not  one  of 
them  answered  to  "roll-call."  We  found  the  captain's  body 
and  those  of  a  few  of  his  men  in  the  river,  and  the  rest  of 
the  bodies  in  the  thicket  on  the  river  bank,  where  they  had 
evidently  been  hemmed  in  and  fired  upon  from  all  sides. 
Nearly  all  had  been  scalped,  and  were  minus  guns  and  am- 
munition, for  these  had  been  confiscated  bv  the  redskins. 
We  buried  the  soldiers  side  by  side,  with  their  captain  at 
their  liead,  and  marked  the  place  by  a  huge  cross,  so  that 
the  bodies  might  be  easily  found  and  removed,  which  was 
subsequently  done,  when  they  were  finally  buried  in  the 
Soldiers'  cemetery  at  Fort  Ridsfely.  After  this  last  service 
to  our  dead  comrades,  we  took  up  the  line  of  march,  leaving 
the  bottom  lands  for  the  prairie  above,  and  it  was  when 
passing  over  the  bluff  that  a  large  body  of  Indians,  who 
were  on  their  way  to  capture  Saint  Peter  and  Mankota, 
espied  us.  What  was  our  subsequent  loss  was  the  gain  of 
the  two  towns  mentioned.  Our  scouts  had  crossed  the 
iiver,  making  a  detour  to  the  south,  and  thus  missed  mak- 
ing the  acquaintance  of  our  enemies,  who  had  their  eyes 
on  us. 

We  went  into  camp  the  second  night  near  Birch  Coolie, 
and  sixteen  miles  distant  from  Fort  Ridgely,  about  5  p.  m.. 


4  1 


IIQ 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1S6L 


IIP' 


well  tired  out  with  our  day's  march.  Birch  Coolie  is  a  deep 
gorge  running  north  and  soutli  in  liedwood  county,  Minne- 
sota. What  was  then  a  bleak  prairie  is  now  a  beautiful 
farming  community,  and  Birch  Coolie  a  thriving  village. 

From  information  gathered  by  the  scouts  we  felt  com- 
paratively safe. 

Old  Joe  said:  "Boys,  go  to  sleep  now  and  rest;  you  are 
as  safe  as  you  would  be  in  your  mother's  house;  there  is 
not  an  Indi-i  within  fifty  miles  of  you."    At  that  very 


^^»^I/^^^^ 


"Chickens  for  Supper." 

moment  five  hundred  Indians  were  in  the  immediate  vicin- 
ity watching  us  and  impatient  for  the  ball  to  open,  as  they 
intended  it  should  at  the  proper  time,  which,  with  the  In- 
dian, is  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

After  our  supper  on  chicken  stew,  song-singing  and 
story-telling,  we  turned  in,  well  tired  out  and  in  a  condition 
to  enjoy  a  good  night's  sleep  and  dreams  of  home. 

The  night  was  warm,  the  sky  clear,  with  the  stars  shining 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE-186M.  m 

tul  niglit-too  beautiful  to  witness  the  -cene  that  was  so 

til  ca  l-'tr-   '  "'r',  '"^  ^^^""^'^  ««"'^''^'   "tattoo," 

came  to  the  V?.       ™?r '  '"'"'"'^  '^^  ""^^  '«««  «^  ^'-"ber 
came  to  the  vveary  soldiers,  and  all  that  could  be  heard  was 

the  occasional  challenge  of  the  o-uard-   "TTnlM      u 
there'"  ^=  ],„  „,„    i    •  guard.     Halt!  who  comes 

S.  ^'"^  approached  by  the  officer  of  the 

enetTand  deltl,'"  "'^*'  '""''  '"^™"«  *^t  *«  '"^-g 


:| 


112 


MINNESOTA  3IASSACRE—1862. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


BATTLE  OF  BIRCH  COOLIE. 


The  battle  of  Birch  Coolie  was  fought  September  3  and 
3, 1862.  It  has  never  taken  its  proper  place  in  history,  but 
with  the  exception  of  the  massacre  at  the  Little  Big  Horn, 
in  1876,  it  was  the  hottest  and  the  most  desperate  battle 
fought  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  or  any  of  our  In- 
dian wars.  In  comparison  to  the  number  of  men  and 
horses  engaged,  I  know  of  no  conflict,  the  one  above  re- 
ferred to  excepted,  where  the  casualties  were  as  great  as 
they  were  here. 

The  Indian  custom  is  to  make  an  attack  about  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  so  this  relief  had  been  especially 
cautioned,  and  soon  after  the  guard  was  placed  one  of  them 
thought  he  saw  something  moving  in  the  grass.  It  proved 
to  be  an  Indian,  and  they  were  slowly  moving  in  upon  us, 
their  intention  being  to  shoot  the  pickets  with  arrows,  and 
as  noiselessly  as  possible  rush  in  and  destroy  us  in  our  con- 
fusion. The  sentinel  fired  at  the  moving  object,  and  in- 
stantly our  camp  was  encircled  by  fire  and  smoke  from  the 
guns  of  five  hundred  Indians,  who  had  hemmed  us  in. 
The  guard  who  fired  escaped  the  bullet  intended  for  him. 
He  said  he  thought  the  moving  object  in  the  grass  might 
bo  a  hog  or  it  might  be  an  Indian,  and,  hog  or  Indian,  he 
intended  to  kill  it  if  he  could.    The  fire  w^as  returned  by  the 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


113 


pickets  as  they  retreated  to  the  camp,  and  although  there 
necessarily  was  confusion,  there  was  no  panic.  Quicker 
than  I  can  write  we  were  out,  musket  in  hand,  but  the  cap- 
tain's command  to  "fall  down"  was  mistaken  for  "fall  in," 
which  makes  a  vast  difference  under  such  circumstances. 
We  soon  broke  for  the  wagons,  however,  which  were  formed 
in  a  circle  about  our  tents,  and  this  afforded  us  some  little 
shelter. 

As  this  was  our  baptismal  fire,  and  a  most  important  en- 
gagement, I  devote  more  space  to  it  than  I  otherwise  would. 
What  an  experience  it  was  to  inexperienced,  peaceable,  un- 
suspecting men!  Think  of  being  awakened  out  of  a  bliss- 
ful sleep  by  the  fire  from  five  hundred  Indian  rifles — it  is 
a  wonder  that  we  were  not  all  destroyed  amid  the  confusion 
that  naturally  would  follow;  but  we  had  cool  heads  among 
us,  and  none  were  cooler  than  Old  Joe  Brown  and  Captain 
H.  P.  Grant,  of  Company  A,  who  was  in  immediate  com- 
mand. I  will  here  refer  to  two  others.  First,  Mr.  William 
H.  Grant,  a  lawyer  of  St.  Paul,  who  still  lives  in  Minnesota. 
He  went  out  to  see  the  fun.  Well,  he  saw  it,  and  the  "trial" 
was  a  severe  one.  He  "objected"  and  "took  exceptions"  to 
everything  the  Indians  did. 

He  wore  a  black  plug  hat,  and  this  was  a  good  mark  for 
the  redskins;  they  shot  it  off  his  head  twice,  and  it  was 
finally  lost  altogether.  "Bill"  was  cool;  he  did  not  lose  his 
temper,  but  laid  down  very  flat  on  the  ground  and  gave 
directions  to  those  about  him  how  to  shoot  to  kill.  We 
afterward  voted  him  in  as  a  brevet  private,  and  were  al- 
ways ready  to  divide  grub  and  "shake."  Postmaster  Ed. 
.Patch,  of  St.  Anthony,  was  another  of  our  citizen  escorts. 
He  was  a  jolly  good  fellow  and  "cool  as  a  cucumber,"  with 
a  bay  window  on  him  like  an  overgrown  bass  arum-    He 


w 


114 


MLXXESO  TA   M.  1 SSA  CRK—1S62. 


found  tliis  excess  of  stoiiiaeh  very  niiieli  in  the  way,  in  his 
great  desire  to  iiug  mother  earth  and  get  out  of  range  of 
tlie  Indian  bullets,  and  looked  as  ii'  Jie  wislied  he  had  never 
been  born,  or  that  he  had  been  a  diseiple  of  anti-fat. 

One  of  our  httle  thin  fellows  was  lying  down  alongside 
of  "Kd,"  and  I'll  never  forget  the  expression  of  his  face 
when  he  said:    "(jlod,  bub,  1  wish  I  was  as  little  as  you  be." 

The  camp  Avas  miserably  located,  being  connnanded  by 
the  deep  ravine  on  one  side  and  by  a  mound  on  the  other, 
so  that  the  savages  were  well  sheltered  from  our  fire.  Had 
the  instructions  given  by  Colonel  Sibley  been  followed, 
which  were  always  to  encani})  in  open  and  level  prairie, 
there  would  have  been  no  such  destruction  of  valuable 
lives,  but  the  spot  was  chosen  for  our  camp  because  it  was 
near  wood  and  water,  and  the  Indians  were  supposed  to  be 
fifty  miles  away.  It  was  a  mistake,  Avhicli  we  discovered 
after  it  was  too  late.  A  brisk  hre  was  opened  by  the  boy-s, 
and  soon  the  cartridge  boxes  were  being  depleted.  Ammu- 
nition was  called  for,  and  upon  opening  a  box,  to  our  dis- 
may we  found  it  to  be  of  too  large  a  calibre.  Other  boxes 
were  opened  with  a  like  result.  In  loading  up  our  ammu- 
nition a  mistake  had  been  made,  and  we  found  ourselves 
in  this  unfortunate  dilemma;  but  no  time  was  to  be  lost, 
as  we  had  not  more  than  an  average  of  twenty  rounds  to 
the  man,  and  a  hoard  of  savages  about  us  who  seemed  well 
supplied  with  powder  and  ball. 

We  went  to  work  cutting  tlie  large  bullets  down  with  our 
knives,  but  this  was  a  slow  and  unsatisfactory  process.  We 
used  the  powder  from  these  large  cartridges  to  load  our 
guns  with,  putting  in  an  extra  amount,  so  that  when  we 
fired  these  blanks  they  made  a  great  noise,  and  thus  kei)t 
up  a  successful  "bluff,"  though  doing  no  damage.    A  dead 


1 


MINN E so  TA    MA  SSA  CUE— 186^, 


115 


silence  would  ensue,  and  occasionally  some  of  our  best 
shots  picked  oil*  a  more  darin*:;  redskin  sim])ly  to  remind 
them  that  we  were  awake.  We  had  hut  one  shovel  and  one 
pick;  there  were  others  in  some  of  the  wagons,  or  they 
had  heen  thrown  out  in  the  grass  and  could  not  be  found. 
The  captain  offered  $5  apiece  for  them,  but  the  hullels 
were  too  thick  to  admit  of  a  search,  so  we  used  jnck-knives, 
spoons  and  hayonets  to  dig  our  intrenchments  with.  In 
time  we  had  very  good  pits  dug,  and  with  the  assistance  of 
the  dead  bodies  of  our  horses  had  ourselves  tolerably  well 
protected. 

With  the  wounded  horses  rearing  and  plunging,  the  men 
groaning  and  calling  for  help,  the  hurried  commands,  and 
the  unearthly  yells  of  the  five  hundred  red  devils  about  us, 
this  baptismal  fire  was  trying  to  the  souls  of  raw  recruits, 
as  most  of  us  were.  We  were  encircled  by  fire  and  smoke, 
the  bullets  were  doing  their  deadly  work,  and  it  really 
seemed  as  though  no  man  could  escape  death.  Our  orders 
were:  "Load  and  fire,  but  steady,  boys,  and  give  them  hail 
Columbia!" 

Upon  the  first  fire  of  the  Indians  two  men  fled  from  the 
camp,  one  a  citizen,  who  was  with  us,  and  the  other  a  sol- 
dier. The  citizen  we  found  afterward  on  the  prairie,  dead. 
He  was  the  last  of  his  family,  for  we  had  buried  his  wif  > 
and  two  children  just  the  previous  day,  before  going  into 
camp.  The  soldier,  a  Swede,  returned,  but  he  was  so  par- 
alyzed with  fear  that  he  was  like  a  dead  man  during  all  this 
memorable  thirty-six  hours,  and  the  poor  fellow  afterward 
succumbed  to  sickness.  Everything  was  improvised  for  a 
barricade — camp  kettles,  knapsacks,  wagon-seats,  etc.,  and 
it  was  done  in  a  hurry,  for  hot  work  was  on  our  hands. 
The  word  soon  went  the  rounds:   "College  is  dead,  Irvine 


•i< 


.     j  .   SI 

■  Si* I  n 

m 

w 


•fti 


w 


116 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE-1862. 


\ 

I 

It  > 


is  (lead,  Baxter,  Coulter,  Benecke,  King  and  a  score  of 
others  are  dead,  and  nearly  all  are  wounded."  It  was  only 
a  few  minutes  alter  the  lirst  fire  when  we  realized  all  this, 
and  it  verily  looked  as  though  the  little  command  would 
be  wiped  out  of  existence.  If  a  head  was  shown  fifty  In- 
dians leveled  at  it.  During  all  this  terrible  fire  Old  Joe 
Brown  walked  about  seemingly  unconcerned,  until  a  bullet 
went  through  the  back  of  his  neck.  He  came  to  the  ground 
as  quick  as  if  shot  through  the  heart,  for  it  was  a  bad 
wound,  but  with  it  all  he  continued  to  give  instructions. 
Nearly  all  the  damage  was  done  before  ten  o'clock,  for  up 
to  that  time  we  found  ourselves  with  sixty  killed  and 
wounded,  out  of  155,  and  ninety-five  horses  dead,  out  of 
ninety-six.  The  horses  saved  our  little  encampment.  As 
soon  as  they  fell  their  bodies  formed  a  good  barricade  for 
us,  and  this  and  the  overturned  wagons  were  our  only  pro- 
tection. The  Indians,  occupying  higher  ground  than  we 
did,  had  us  at  a  disadvantage.  The  day  wore  on,  and  all 
we  could  do  was  to  assist  Surgeon  J.  W.  Daniel?  with  the 
wounded  and  keep  the  Indians  at  bay.  Dr.  Daniels  proved 
himself  a  cool-headed,  brave  man,  never  flinching  for  a 
moment.  Where  duty  called  he  was  found,  and  he  immor- 
talized himself  with  the  boys.  The  great  fear  of  the. 
wounded  seemed  to  be  that  we  would  be  obliged  to  abandon 
them  to  their  fate,  for  the  sun  was  extremely  hot  and  the 
camp  had  become  very  offensive  from  the  smell  of  decom- 
posing bodies  of  horses;  besides,  we  had  no  means  of  trans- 
porting the  wounded,  and  their  fears  were  not  without 
foundation,  for  it  looked  as  though  we  would  be  driven  by 
necessity  from  the  camp.  We  assured  and  reassured  them 
that  if  we  went  they  would  go,  too.  If  we  died  it  would  be 
in  defending  them  as  well  as  ourselves. 


MINNESOTA    MASSACIIE—1S62. 


117 


The  one  thing,  aside  from  cowardice  on  the  part  of  the 
Indians,  tliat  saved  us  from  assault  was  the  fact  of  our  hav- 
ing several  half-breed  scouts  with  us,  who  talked  back  and 

forth. 

The  Indians  said:  "Come  out  from  the  pale-faces;  wo 
do  not  want  to  kill  you,  but  we  want  all  their  scalps." 

Private  James  Auge  of  our  company  was  the  spokesman. 
He  was  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  but  had  lived  among  tliJ 
Indians,  knew  them  well,  and  spoke  their  language,  and  a^ 
he  went  so  would  all  the  other  Indians  and  half-breeds  who 
were  with  us. 


T 


m 


m 


118 


MIKNE^OTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


m: 


CHAPTER  XIX 


BIRCH   COOLIE    CONTINUED. 


On  the  second  day,  at  about  sunrise,  we  discovered  a  large 
body  of  Indians  closing  up  nearer  to  us,  when  one  of  their 
number,  probably  Little  Crow's  brother,  came  within 
twenty  rods  of  us.  He  was  on  a  white  horse,  and  carried  a 
flag  of  truce.  He  held  a  conversation  with  Auge,  our  in- 
terpreter, and  tried  to  persuade  him  to  leave  us  and  bring 
the  other  half-breeds  with  him.  When  the  conversation 
was  interpreted  to  Captain  Grant,  he  said:  "Well,  Auge, 
what  do  you  fellows  intend  to  do,  go  with  the  Indians  or 
stay  with  us?"    Auge  replied: 

"Captain  Grant,  we  want  nothing  to  do  with  these  In- 
dians; we  will  stand  by  you  and  fight  as  long  as  there  is  a 
man  left,  and  I  will  now  tell  them  so."  He  did  call  to 
them,  and  said: 

"We  won't  come  over  to  you;  we  will  stay  with  the 
soldiers,  and  if  you  come  we  will  kill  you  if  we  can.  You 
are  cowards  to  kill  poor  women  and  children,  and  if  we 
catch  you  we  will  treat  you  as  you  treated  them." 

We  felt  relieved  to  know  that  our  half-breeds  were  loyal. 
Auge,  after  this,  was  Corporal  Auge,  and  he  went  all 
through  the  South  with  us,  making  a  splendid  soldier.    I 


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MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


121 


shall  have  occasion  to  refer  to  him  in  another  place  in  this 
chapter. 

Captain  Grant  told  Auge  to  say  to  them  that  we  had  two 
hundred  fighting  men  and  plenty  of  ammunition,  and  that 
Little  Crow  and  all  his  dirty  Indians  could  not  take  us, 
and  for  him  to  get  out  with  his  flag  of  truce. 

It  was  a  game  of  bluff,  for  at  that  time  we  only  had 
about  sixty-five  effective  men,  and  were  nearly  out  of  am- 
munition. 

We  did  not  know  whether  we  could  trust  the  half-breeds 
or  not,  and  were  instructed  to  fire  on  them  to  kill  if  they 
made  the  slightest  move  to  desert  us.  Our  firing  had  been 
heard  at  Fort  Ridgely,  sixteen  miles  away,  and  the  Colonel 
dispatched  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  with  one  howitzer, 
to  our  relief. 

Just  at  sunset  the  second  day  we  saw  two  horsemen 
come  to  the  edge  of  the  woods  across  the  Coolie,  but  the 
Indians  also  saw  them,  and  chased  them  back.  They  re- 
turned to  their  command  and  reported  a  large  body  of  In- 
dians, and  said  they  saw  a  small  camp  with  the  stars  and 
stripes  flying,  but  as  they  had  no  field  glass,  could  not  make 
it  out.  Colonel  McPhail,  who  was  in  command  of  this  re- 
lief, ordered  the  howitzer  to  be  fired  to  give  us  courage, 
if  the  little  camp  proved  to  be  ours.  A  shout  went  up  at 
this  welcome  sound  just  as  the  sun  went  down.  Old  Joe 
Brown,  who  had  been  disabled  early  in  the  day,  called  out 
from  his  tent:  "Captain  Grant,  instruct  the  men  to  be 
watchful;  we  are  in  a  bad  fix;  the  Indians  will  hate  to 
lose  our  scalps,  now  that  they  are  so  near  their  grasp;  give 
them  a  few  shots  occasionally,  assure  the  wounded  men  that 
we  will  not  leave  them,  and  keep  the  pick  and  shovel  busy." 
We  disposed  of  ourselves  for  the  night  as  best  we  could. 


Si    '■ 

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122 


MIJSfNESO  TA    MASS  A  CRE—186^,  ,  • 


I 
I 


Every  man  was  on  guard,  and  nearly  all  had  two  rifles  fully 
charged  and  bayonets  fixed.  We  clasped  our  rifles,  looked 
up  into  the  starry  heavens,  and,  asking  God's  protection, 
swore  not  to  yield  an  inch.  We  made  this  demonstration 
to  encourage  the  wounded  men,  who  seemed  fearful  that 
something  more  terrible  was  in  store  for  them.  The  pray- 
ers and  groans  of  the  wounded  and  the  awful  silence  of  the 
dead  inspired  us  to  do  our  whole  duty.  The  watch-word, 
"wide-awake,"  went  the  rounds  every  few  minutes,  and 
there  was  "no  sleep  to  the  eye  nor  slumber  to  the  eye-lids," 
during  all  that  live-long  night. 

Out  of  our  ninety-six  horses  we  had  but  one  left.  This 
was  a  splendid  animal,  and  had  thus  far  escaped  without  a 
scratch.  lie  was  feeding  about  the  camp,  unmindful  of  the 
fate  of  his  fellows. 

The  picture  of  Birch  Coolie  is  an  exact  reproduction  of 
the  situation.  The  ninety-five  dead  horses  were  all  within 
the  enclosure,  and  the  one  who  escaped, for  the  time  is 
grazing  among  them.  , 

Just  before  midnight  the  clouds  began  to  gather,  and  we 
felt. cheered  to  think  we  would  soon  have  rain.  We  were 
sorely  in  need  of  water,  for  we  liad  not  tasted  a  drop  since 
the  night  before,  and  the  wounded  men  were  nearly  fam- 
ished with  thirst  and  burning  with  fever.  As  the  sky 
darkened  Captain  Grant  called  for  a  volunteer  to  go  to 
Fort  Ridgely  for  relief.  Corporal  James  Auge,  volunteered 
to  go,  and  by  this  act  proved  himself  a  truly  brave  man, 
and  if  it  had  been  successfully  carried  out  would  have 
gained  for  him  a  commission  at  no  very  distant  day.  The 
fact  of  its  not  being  carried  out  was  no  fault  of  his,  and,  in 
the  abandonment  of  the  trial,  he  was  declared  not  the  less 
brave  by  all  his  comrades,  who  trembled  for  him  while  he 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


123 


was  preparing  to  make  the  perilous  journey.  The  night 
was  cloudy,  and  he  being  conversant  with  Indian  methods 
and  well  posted  in  the  topography  of  the  country,  could  be  ' 
successful  in  getting  through  tlie  Indian's  lines,  if  anybody 
could;  but  the  chances  were  ten  to  one  agaiiist  the  success 
of  the  undertaking.  ^< 

^  The  horse  was  saddled  and  the  Corporal  had  his  instruc- 
tions,    lie  had  his  foot  in  the  stirrup  when  the  clouds 
rolled  back  from  the  full  moon  like  the  rolling  back  of  a-    ' 
scroll,  and  it  was  almost  as  light  as  noonday!    The  Indians, 
ever  on  the  alert,  saw  the  preparations  and  opened  fire 
anew  upon  us,  and,  long  before  they  ceased,  our  good  horse 
was  pierced  by  six  bullets,  and  the  project  was  abandoned 
— we  could  only  wait  anxiously  for  results.    The  enemy  did   ' 
not  allow  us  to  wait  long,  for  at  four  o'clock  tliey  opened  a'^ 
terrific  fire,  which  they  kept  up  for  an  hour.     The  only    ' 
response  they  got  from  us  was  blank  cartridges,  but    we'  i 
made  a  great  noise  with  them,  and  it  answered  the  purpose 
very  well.    We  had  ourselves  so  well  protected  that  in' this 
fusilade  they  killed  but  one  man  and  wounded  another.    ' 

The  early  morning  dawn  and  heavy,  dewy  atmosphere'    ' 
found  our  eyes  heavy  from  loss  of  sleep,  so'\ve  divided  up    • 
and  some  slept  while  others  watched.    We  heard  nothing 
of  the  detachment,  and  as  the  day  advanced  the  Indians 
became  bolder.    They  had  driven  the  relief  back  and  were     ' 
^losing  in  upon  us,  and  we,  having  so  little  ammunition,     " 
could  do  them  but  little  harm.    They  were' puzzled  at  our 
silence.    Some  of  the  chiefs  said  it  was  a  trick,' others  said 
we  were  all  killed.    At  any  rate,  with  them  "discretion  was  "  ' 
the  better  part  of  valor,"  and  we  didn't  object.  '     " 

About  one  o'clock  the  same  day  we  descried  the  glimmer 
of  the  polished  rifle  in  the  distance.    We  had  no  glass,  but 


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124 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


fe 


anxious  eyes  strained  to  see  what  it  was,  and  the  dark  out- 
line of  a  moving  mass  told  us  reinforcements  were  coming. 
The  chiefs,  by  waving  their  blankets  and  shouts,  called  off 
their  warriors.  "There's  a  mile  of  whites  coming,"  they 
said,  fhey  waved  their  tomahawks,  shouted,  fired,  and 
finally  galloped  off  on  the  prairie. 

A  few  warriors  more  daring  than  the  others  remained 
behind  for  a  time  to  get  a  scalp,  and  some  of  them  came 
so  close  we  could  readily  discern  their  war  paint.  Before 
the  main  body  of  the  Indians  left,  however,  they  rode  very 
close,  and  gave  us  several  parting  volleys.  The  wounding 
of  a  few  of  our  men  was  all  the  damage  they  did  at  this 

time. 

Eight  joyful  were  we  when  the  reinforcements  arrived. 
Our  camp  had  been  formed  by  driving  twenty  teams  in  a 
circle,  and  it  can  readily  be  seen  that  it  was  not  large.  It 
was  about  as  large  as  an  ordinary  circus  tent,  and  inside 
of  this  we  had  our  horses,  men  and  tents.  After  the  battle 
the  sight  was  a  sickening  one,  for  with  sixty  dead  and 
wounded  men  and  ninety-five  horses  in  such  a  small  space, 
and  all  the  confusion  arising  out  of  such  a  siege  it  was 
enough  to  appall  the  stoutest  heart.  Strong  men,  when 
they  beheld  the  sight,  wept  like  children.  It  was  our  bap- 
tismal fire,  and  the  horror  seemed  greater  to  us.  Our  men, 
whose  nerves  had  been  on  a  tension  so  long  and  bodies  ex- 
hausted for  want  of  food,  water  and  sleep,  when  the  relief 
came,  fell  down  and  slept.  Colonel  Sibley  was  the  first  to 
arrive,  and  when  he  rode  up  to  our  barricade,  and  saw  the 
terrible  loss  of  life  he  looked  as  though  he  had  lost  his  best 
friends.  His  heart  bled  at  the  sight,  and  the  tears  he  shed 
spoke  volumes.  A  detail  was  at  once  made  to  bury  the 
dea    side  by  side  in  a  temporary  grave,  dinner  was  cooked 


rF^^ 


11 


MINNEISOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


125 


for  the  remainder  of  the  command  and  the  wounded  were 
put  in  ambulances,  tents  were  "struck/'  and  we  took  up 
the  Une  of  march  for  Fort  Ridgely,  which  we  reached  some- 
time during  the  night.  Our  tents  had  been  so  completely 
riddled  with  bullets  that  they  were  condemned  as  useless, 
and  were  finally  sent  down  to  Fort  Snelling  and  placed  on 
exhibition  for  a  long  time.  One  of  them  had  375  bullet 
holes  in  it,  and  when  the  people  looked  at  them  they  won- 
dered that  any  man  escaped.  The  narrow  escapes  were 
almost  miraculous,  and  congratulations  were  frequently  in 
order.  It  was  not  every  man  for  himself,  but  a  strong 
fellow-feeling  sprang  up  among  us  that  forever  afterwards 
cemented  our  hearts.  We  shared  our  shelter  and  encour- 
aged one  another,  and  no  man  shrank  from  duty.  We  had 
determined  to  die  together,  and  if  ever  soldiers  stood  shoul- 
der to  shoulder  we  did  on  this  bloody  spot,  where  our  nerves 
and  courage  were  taxed  to  the  utmost.  Company  A,  so 
nearly  wiped  out,  was  ever  afterwards  considered  the  "Old 
Ironsides"  of  the  regiment. 

Before  we  left,  Colonel  Sibley  addressed  a  note  to  Little 
Crow,  and  placing  it  on  a  stick  stuck  it  in  the  ground  so 
he  might  find  it  when  he  would  visit  the  battle  ground, 
as  he  surely  would  do  as  soon  as  we  were  out  of  the  way. 
The  note  was  as  follows: 

"If  Little  Crow  has  any  proposition  to  make  let  him 
send  a  half-breed  to  me  and  he  shall  be  protected  in  and 
out  of  my  camp.  H.  H.  Sibley, 

Colonel  Commanding  Mihtary  Expedition. 

To  specify  the  remarkable  escapes  would  unduly  lengthen 
this  chapter,  but,  as  near  as  my  recollection  serves  me,  no 
man  entirely  escaped.    I'll  specify  two — one  an  escape  and 


;!■ 


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MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


the  other  an  incident.  Lieutenant  Swan,  of  the  Third 
Minnesota,  now  a  lawyer  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  was  with 
us  on  this  picnic.  He  was  not  ordered  to  go,  neither  was 
he  detailed,  hut  he  simply  went,  and  he  had  a  very  narrow 
escape.  During  the  sharp  firing,  and  after  we  had  some 
shallow  pits  dug,  this  ollicer  was  in  one  as  far*as  his  long 
legs  would  admit.  He  had  a  fine  gold  watch  jn  his  foh 
pocket,  and  one  of  the  hoys  asked  him  the  time  of  day.  He 
undouhled  as  well  as  he  could  and  got  out  his  watch,  hut  in 
returning  it  put  it  in  his  vest  pocket  instead  of  the  foh.  It 
was  no  sooner  in  his  pocket  than  an  Indian  hullet  struck  it 
squarely  in  the  center.  The  concussion  knocked  the  lieu- 
tenant over,  hut  the  watch  saved  his  life.  He  keeps  it  as  a 
valued  souvenir  of  the  occasion. 

The  incident  relates  to  Private  James  Leyde,  of  Com- 
pany A,  of  the  Sixth.  He  was  a  little  fellow  who  could 
march  longer  and  eat  oftener  than  any  youngster  of  his 
size  I  ever  saw.  Jimmy  was  a  splendid  soldier,  always 
ready  for  drill  or  guard,  and  never  forgot  his  manners 
when  he  met  a  "shoulder-straps."  He  was  a  pious  little 
fellow,  too,  and  carried  a  Bihle  his  mother  gave  him. 

Well,  "after  the  battle"  Jimmy  was  looking  over  the 
wreck  with  his  comrade,  Billy  Caine,  and  in  taking  up  his 
Bible  found  a  bullet  embedded  in  it.  "Hello,  Billy,  my 
Bible  got  struck!"  The  ball  had  gone  through  Genesis, 
Exodus  and  Leviticus,  until  it  stopped  half  way  through 
Deuteronomy.  Jimmy  says:  "God,  Billy,  it  didn't  get 
through  Deuteronomy  anyway!" 

There  were  many  close  calls,  and  it  really  seemed  re- 
markable that  so  many  could  escape.  I  could  specify 
scores,  but  it  is  not  necessary. 

Among  the  incidents  on  the  march  before  we  arrived 


\-\\, 
\i\'\ 


I ' 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 186^. 


127 


at  Birch  Coolie  I  might  mention  the  finding  of  a  wounded 
woman  by  the  roadside.  She  had  been  without  food  or 
water  for  twelve  days,  and  was  the  only  one  of  a  large 
party  supposed  to  have  been  murdered.  She  did  not 
escape  uninjured,  however,  for  the  surgeon  took  fourteen 
buckshot  from  her  back.  During  our  thirty-six  hours' 
siege  this  poor  woman  remained  in  the  wagon  where  she 
had  been  placed  the  first  day,  and  spent  her  time  in  pray- 
ing for  our  deliverance.  She  sustained  a  broken  wrist  in 
addition  to  her  other  wounds,  but  after  we  got  to  the 
fort  she  was  among  her  own  people  and  soon  fully  recov- 
ered to  tell  the  tale  of  her  twelve  days'  wanderings  and  her 
marvelous  escape. 


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128 


MINNESO  TA  MA  S^SA  C RE— 1862. 


CHAPTEK     XX. 


BATTLE  OF  WOOD  LAKE. 


At  this  juncture  tlie  ])rc?s  nnd  people  were  clamoring  for 
Colonel  Sibley's  removal  because  ol'  his  delay  and,  as  they 
claimed — lack  of  euer<]:y  and  judgment.  He  lacked  in 
neither,  for  he  knew  the  foe  he  had  to  deal  with,  and  if 
he  had  heeded  the  behests  of  the  press  and  people,  so 
far  away,  not  a  woman  or  child  of  the  captives  would  have 
escaped.  However,  he  dispatched  Col.  William  Crooks  to 
St.  Paul  to  explain  the  situation  in  detail  to  Governor 
Ramsey  and  satisfy  the  clamorous  press  that  they  knew 
but  little  of  the  situation  as  it  existed  at  the  seat  of  the 
Sioux  war. 

After  our  return  to  Fort  Ridgely  and  a  few  more  days 
of  preparation,  the  command  was  put  in  splendid  march- 
ing condition,  and  "forward"  was  the  word  for  the  rescuing 
of  the  captives  and  if  possible  the  capture  of  the  renegades. 
We  met  the  Indians  n(^\t  at  W^ood  Lake  and  had  a  sharp 
battle  with  them  early  in  the  morning.  They  had  come 
down  in  force  to  annihilate  us,  but  we  were  glad  to  meet 
them  in  broad  day  light  on  the  open  prairie  and  receive 
them  with  "open  arms  to  hospitable  graves."  W^e  were 
just  up  from  a  good  night's  sleep  and  had  partaken  of  a 
generous  supply  of  Old  Java  and  "hard  tack,"  and  felt 


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MINNESO TA   MASSA CliK—lSO^. 


131 


abundantly  able  to  defend  oiirselvtvs.  Besides  we  were 
veterans  now,  lor  vve  liad  profited  by  our  l)a|)tisinal  fire  and 
had  an  old  score  lo  settle  with  "Air.  Jnjuii,"'  and  we  settled 
to  our  entire  satisi'aetion. 

Our  sappers  had  gone  out  to  repair  a  bridge  that  had 
been  burned,  and  the  temptation  was  too  great  for  some 
of  the  younger  warriors.  The  plan  of  the  Indians  was  to 
surprise  us  as  we  were  crossing  the  river — to  divide  our 
attention  by  having  a  small  l)ody  in  the  rear  and  one  in 
front,  and  then  the  main  body  to  spring  from  their  am- 
bush, and  in  our  confusion  to  destroy  us;  but  (ho  young 
bucks,  when  they  saw  a  few  of  our  men,  wanted  their 
scalps  so  bad  they  opened  fire.  The  "long  roll"  was 
sounded,  and  we  stood  to  arms.  Little  Crow  knew  that 
Colonel  Sibley  was  aware  of  his  tactics,  and  was  determined 
to  remove  him  if  he  could  by  detailing  about  eighty  of  his 
best  warriors  to  do  the  work,  and  at  this  battle  of  Wood 
Lake  thev  tried  hard  to  reach  him,  but  he  was  too  watch- 
ful  to  be  caught  napping.  A  detachment  of  the  Third 
Minnesota,  under  Major  Welch,  jiud  the  Renville  Rangers 
charged  upon  the  Indians  in  one  direction,  and  the  Seventh 
Minnesota,  in  command  of  C^ol.  William  R.  Marshall,  in 
another,  while  the  battery,  under  command  of  Captain 
Mark  Hendricks,  did  effective  work  also.  The  Sixth  Min- 
nesota, under  command  of  Colonel  William  Crooks,  routed 
the  Indians  from  a  deep  ravine  on  the  right  flank  of  our 
camp  and  probably  saved  Colonel  Sibley  from  being  cap- 
tured by  the  picked  men  sent  out  for  that  purpose  by  Little 
Crow. 

The  conflict  lasted  more  than  two  hours  and  was  de- 
cisive. The  Indians  ofPered  to  surrender  if  Colonel  Sibley 
would   promise   them    immunity   from   punishment,   but 


' 


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l32 


MIKNESOTA   MAS^AC!RE~1862. 


this  was  sternly  refused.  They  fled  in  dismay,  not  beino- 
permitted  to  take  their  dead  and  wounded  from  the  field. 
So  confident  were  they  of  success  that  they  had  brought 
their  women  and  teams  to  take  back  the  pillage  after  the 

Indians  had  loaded  themselves  with  glory  and  scalps but 

presto,  change;  they  got  no  glory  and  lost  their  scalps. 

The  soldiers  had  not  forgotten  Birch  Coolie  quite  so 
soon  and  took  great  pleasure  in  procuring  Indian  scalps 
for  trophies. 

"Other  Day,"  who  guided  a  large  party  in  escaping  the 
massacre,  seemed  to  have  a  charmed  life,  and  a  little  inci- 
dent here,  in  which  he  is  the  chief  figure,  will  not  be  amiss. 
"Other  Day,"  the  same  as  other  scouts,  wore  United  States 
clothing.  The  day  before  the  Wood  Lake  battle  he  was 
out  scouting,  and  coming  to  a  house  turned  his  pony  out 
to  graze  and  lay  down  to  take  a  noon-day  nap.  An  Indian 
espied  the  pony  and  wanted  it.  He  stealthily  came  up  to 
the  sleeping  "Other  Day,"  and  putting  up  some  kind  of  a 
sign  so  he  might  know  a  brother  Indian  had  his  pony,  he 
rode  off  with  the  animal.  "Other  Day,"  considerably  crest- 
fallen, came  back  to  headquarters  and  reported  his  loss 
and  the  manner  of  it.  The  Colonel  and  his  staff  had  a 
hearty  laugh  at  his  expense,  which  rather  offended  his  In- 
dian sensitiveness.  "Xever  mind,"  says  he,  "me  f^et  two 
for  one." 

Early  next  morning  "Other  Day"  put  on  his  Indian  tog- 
gery, paint,  feathers  and  all,  and  as  the  Indians  hove  in 
sight  the  morning  of  the  Wood  Lake  battle,  he  started  out 
on  his  ponv  hunt.  Our  men  espied  him  across  the  ravine, 
and  thirkmg  him  a  hostile  opened  fire  on  him.  His  blan- 
ket was  perforated  with  bullets,  even  the  feathers  in  his 
hair  were  shot  off,  and  yet  no  harm  came  to  him.     After  the 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


133 


battle  he  came  in  with  two  ponies,  and  reporting  to  the 
Colonel,  laughingly  said:  "Me  got  two  for  one."  His  won- 
derful escape  was  the  talk  of  the  camp,  and  the  Colonel  had 
an  order  issued  prohibiting  any  one  attached  to  the  com- 
mand, in  the  future,  wearing  anything  but  the  United 
States  regulation  uniform. 

The  battle  was  a  very  decisive  one  and  very  discouraging 
to  the  Indians,  who  suffered  a  loss  of  175  in  killed  and 
wounded,  while  our  loss  was  fifty-seven  killed  and  wounded. 
The  engagement  lasted  two  hours,  and  after  the  dead  were 
gathered  up  and  buried  and  the  wounded  cared  for  the 
column  was  again  ready  to  move.  This  battle  developed 
the  fact  that  the  Indian  forces  resisting  our  advance  were 
composed  in  part  of  the  Medawakantons  and  Wahpekutas 
of  the  Lower  and  Wuhpetons  and  Sissetons  of  the  Upper 
Sioux  and  Winnebagos,  half-breeds  and  deserters  from,  the 
Renville  Eangers. 

The  utmost  solicitude  was  expressed  for  the  safety  of 
the  white  prisoners,  who  knew  that  the  Indians  had  gone 
down  to  fight  the  soldiers.  They  knew  the  temper  of  the 
squaws  especially  and  feared  the  results  of  the  battle.  They 
heard  the  firing  jf  the  howitzer  away  in  the  distance,  and 
by  noon  squaws  began  to  arrive  and  in  a  most  unhappy 
mood.  ' 

It  was  immediately  after  tlie  battle  of  Wood  Lake  that 
General  Pope  wrote  to  General  Tlalleck  as  follows; 

"You  do  not  seem  to  be  aware  of  the  extent  of  the  Indian 
oiitbreak.  The  Sioux,  2,000  warriors,  are  assembled  at 
the  Upper  Agency  to  give  battle  to  Colonel  Sibley,  who  is 
advancing  with  1,000  men  and  five  pieces  of  artillery. 
Throe  hundred  and  over  of  women  and  cbUdron  are  cap- 
tives in  their  hands.    Cannot  the  paroled  officers  and  men 


*il 


■rl  ' 

■    i  ' 


134 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


of  the  rifle  regiment  (dragL-^ns)  now  in  Michigan  be  sent 
here?" 

The  stay-at-homes,  who  were  loudest  in  their  complaints, 
were  raising  the  cry,  "On  to  Kichmond,"  on  the  one  hand, 
and  then  again,  "On  to  Little  Crow"  on  the  other.  Colonel 
Sibley  stood  like  a  man  of  iron  against  these  impatient 
behests.  The  "howlers"  were  not  heeded,  and  in  the  liber- 
ation of  the  captives  he  gained  the  gratitude  of  the  nation 
and  a  merit-ed  promotion. 

The  friendly  chiefs  who  had  determined  at  all  hazards 
to  protect  the  defenseless  women  and  children  redoubled 
their  vigilance  during  the  night;  because  they,  too,  knew 
the  temper  of  a  vanquished  Sioux  warrior.  The  position 
of  these  poor  creatures  was  truly  pitiable. 

No  less  than  four  different  councils  were  convoked,  the 
Upper  Indians  arrayed,  in  a  measure^  against  the  Lower, 
and  a  quarrel  ensued.  Little  Paul,  Eed  Iron,  Standing 
Buffalo,  Ch*^  ka  and  a  hundred  Sissetons  determined  to 
fight  Little  Crow  himself  should  any  attempt  >^e  made  to 
massacre  the  captives  or  place  them  in  front  at  the  coming 
battle.  The  hostiles  began  to  fear  that  judgment  was 
near,  and  it  compelled  Little  Crow  to  assume  a  spirit  of 
bravado  not  at  all  in  consonance  witli  his  feelings. 

Colorel  Sibley,  when  he  came  in  sight  of  the  hostile 
camp,  did  not  do  as  the  majority  of  the  soldiers  thought 
he  our^'t;  viz.,  march  up  and  at  once  surround  the  camp. 
This  is  where  his  coolness  and  knowledge  of  the  Indians 
served  him  so  good  a  purpose.  lie  knew  if  he  attempted 
such  a  course  that  the  renegade  Indians  in  the  camp  would 
at  once  take  the  alarm  and  run  away,  and  that  probably  be- 
iore  they  did  go  they  would  attempt  to  take  the  prisonevs 
^with  them,  and  failing  in  this  would  kill  them  outright. 


■<::■    •! 


td 


i 

I 


ll: 


AtmM^dfA  MAiiSACU]!^—l86^. 


137 


He  was  informed  of  this  by  one  of  the  scouts  and  at  once 
concluded  to  adopt  but  one  course,  to  go  into  camp  and 
pay  no  attention  to  them  and  thus  disarm  them  of  any  fear 
as  to  h  ■  3  real  intention.  While  the  Colonel  did  this,  and 
apparently  intended  to  leave  them  alone,  he  was  informing 
himself  of  the  condition  of  affairs  in  the  Indian  camp.  He 
learned  that  several  of  the  worst  bands  had  gone  farther 
up  north,  and  he  sent  word  to  them  to  return  and  they 
should  not  be  harmed.  Several  bands  did  come  back,  but 
there  were  those  who  did  not,  and  after  the  scouts  had 
located  them,  companies  of  soldiers  were  sent  out  to  make 
their  capture.  In  this  way  they  all  came  back  or  were 
captured  and  compelled  to  come,  excepting  Little  CroAV 
and  his  immediate  followers. 

At  Camp  Kelease  we  attended  to  guard  mount,  company 
and  battalion  drill,  and  all  other  duties  incideht  to  a  sol- 
dier's life.  It  became  necessary  to  make. a  concerted  move 
against  the  Indian  camp  in  our  immediate  vicinity  and 
relieve  the  white  prisoners,  and  the  orders  were  received  one 
night  for  all  the  infantry  to  turn  out  at  twelve  midnight. 
It  was  to  be  done  noiselessly,  and  the  instructions  were  so 
given.  The  whole  command  marched  out  in  single  file 
until  the  Indian  camp  was  surrounded,  and  then  we  were 
ordered  to  close  in.  After  this  was  done  we  received  orders 
to  lie  down  and  to  remain  until  daylight,  when,  at  the 
sound  of  reveille,  we  were  to  rise  up.  The  Indians,  hear- 
ing the  early  bugle  call  so  near  them,  flocked  out  to  see 
what  it  was  and  found  themselves  prisoners. 

Negotiations  at  once  commenced  for  the  unconditional 
surrender  of  the  white  prisoners,  and  the  object  about 
which  General  Sibley  was  so  solicitous  was  accomplished. 
He  knew  that  he  could  not  attack  the  hostiles  in  the 


'J' 


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138 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 186t 


V 


■!   i| 


fhc.  .My  camp  without  endangering  the  lives  of  the  cap- 
tives, and  that  the  best  policy  was  to  api)ear  indifferent 
about  their  presence  and  thus  disarm  them  of  fear.  The 
plan  worked  admirably,  and  the  game  was  successfully 
bagged. 


OXUtB  DAY. 


J- 


MINNEISOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


139 


CHAPTEll    XXI. 


CAMP  RELEASE. 


w- 1 


Among  the  attractive  and  cultivated  women  found 
among  the  prisoners  was  a  Miss  Mattie  Williams,  of  Paines- 
ville,  Ohio,  who  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  was  living  with 
an  uncle  on  the  Yellow  Medicine  Kiver.  They  had  been 
surprised  by  the  Indians  without  a  moment's  warning,  and 
of  course,  in  their  hurry,  had  no  time  to  plan  for  an  escape; 
but  each  sought  safety  as  best  they  could  and  became 
separated.  Miss  Williams,  in  her  wanderings,  was  picked 
up  by  a  Mr.  Patwell,  who  was  escaping  with  a  German  girl, 
who  also  was  fleeing.  They  were  overtaken  by  the  Indians, 
Mr.  Patwell  was  killed,  the  German  girl  so  wounded  that 
she  died,  and  Miss  Williams  herself,  wounded  in  the 
shoulder,  was  alone  with  her  Indian  captors,  who  imposed 
upon  her  all  the  indignities  born  of  their  hellish  desires. 
For  forty  days  she  suffered  as  no  human  mind  can  imagine, 
forty  anxious  days  and  sleepless  nights  in  a  dirty,  smoke- 
begrimed,  leaky  tent,  clad  in  Indian  costume  and  obliged 
to  submit  to  savage  passion.  But  the  angels  listened  and 
the  day  of  deliverance  drew  near.  The  women  of  this 
camp  were  all  of  one  mind — in  accord  they  prayed  that 
deliverance  should  come,  and  that  the  guiding  hand  should 
be  directed  by  a  clear  head.    As  Moses  was  preserved  in  the 


ii 


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'% 


1 


140 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


li  s  1-. ) . 


bulrushes  and  found  by  Pharaoh's  daughter  and  educated 
for  a  purpose — to  lead  the  children  of  Israel  from  out  the 
land  of  bondage  and  through  the  Ked  Sea  to  the  wilder- 
ness and  the  promised  land — so,  too,  was  Colonel  Sibley 
raised  up  to  frustrate  the  designs  of  the  Indians  and  liber- 
ate these  women  and  children. 

On  the  night  of  September  25th  our  heroine,  wrapped  in 
her  Indian  blanket,  laid  herself  down,  not  to  pleasant 
dreams,  but  to  blissful  waking  visions  of  release.  Nor  was 
she  alone  in  her  night  vigils;  other  hearts,  burdened  and 
borne  down  with  unutterable  anguish,  petitioned  God  to 
so  direct  the  soldiers  who  were  on  the  way,  that  their 
release  might  be  sure.  The  soldiers  are  coming,  and  are 
these  weary, anxious,  fearful  days  and  nights  to  end?  At  the 
first  dawning  of  the  day,  September  26th,  the  Indian  camp 
was  astir  and  preparations  made  to  receive  distinguished 
guests.  And  who  were  these  guests?  Colonel  Sibley,  the 
big  white  chief,  and  his  staff.  Extra  paint,  paint  of  every 
hue,  and  beads,  together  with  eagle  feathers  and  white  flags, 
were  conspicuous  throughout  this  excited  Indian  tepee 
village. 

The  bright  gleam  of  muskets  away  in  the  distance, 
banners  fluttering  in  the  breeze  and  the  sound  of  martial 
music  as  it  struck  the  glad  expectant  ear,  was  an  answer 
to  all  their  prayers:  "Deliverance  had  come!"  Hearts  made 
glad  because  the  terrible  nightmare  of  weeks  had  been 
dissipated,  the  anxious  days  and  sleepless  nights  were  at 
an  end,  prayers  had  been  answered,  and  it  was  now  a  time 
for  thanksgiving.  Was  it  ended,  this  horrible  dream?  Yes. 
But  with  it  all,  strong  attachments  sprang  up  between  the 
captive  and  the  captor.  They  would  have  been  less  than 
human  if  it  were  not  so.     These  sturdy  and  determined 


HI 


'i 


1 


U  (; 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


143 


Indian  women  and  men  who  protected  them  had  jeopar- 
dized their  lives,  and  what  greater  love  can  we  show  one 
for  the  otlier  than  that  we  lay  down  our  lives? 

The  little  children,  from  one  year  up  to  four  or  five, 
who  had  become  orphaned,  were  adopted  by  the  Indian 
mother,  and  these  mothers,  who  became  so  under  such 
sorrowful  circumstances,  and  having  all  the  maternal  in- 
stincts of  her  more  favored  white  sister,  cared  for  them 
as  tenderly  as  she  did  her  own.  The  little  things  were 
there  with  their  dirty,  chubby  faces,  just  the  same  as  their 
Indian  mates,  their  faces  were  painted,  their  hair  braided 
and  garnished  with  eagle  feathers,  and  they  really  seemed 
happy  and  contented  amid  their  changed  and  strange  envir- 
onments. When  the  time  came  for  them  to  go  to  our  camps 
they  cried  and  wanted  to  stay  with  their  newly  found  Indian 
mothers,  and  the  mothers  in  turn  hugged  them  and  cried 
over  them  and  hated  to  give  them  up.  There  is  nothing 
passes  a  mother's  love,  even  an  Indian  mother's  love. 

It  was  a  proud  day  for  Colonel  Sibley,  and  as  he  looked 
into  the  happy  faces  of  the  captives  and  received  their  bless- 
ings and  reverent  homage,  his  heart  was  touched  and  tears 
coursed  down  his  cheeks.  He  was  yet  a  colonel,  so  far  as 
we  knew,  and  one  of  his  staff  officers,  in  addressing  him 
said : 

"Colonel  Sibley,  I  would  rather  have  the  glory  of  your 
achievement  to-day  than  the  proudest  victory  ever  won  in 
battle." 

The  military  camp  at  this  point  was  designated  Camp 
Release,  so  named  from  the  nature  of  our  mission  in  releas- 
ing the  people  from  their  Indian  captivity.  The  manner 
in  which  they  were  rescued  and  the  Indians  captured  re- 
flects greatly'to  the  credit  and  sagacity  of  Colonel  Sibley 


i  ■ 


m\ 


i  : 

'  ;   / 
.  '   ■ 


144 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


and  his  advisers.  The  impetuous  and  indignant  soldiers, 
after  what  their  eyes  had  beheld  in  the  region  where  the 
whites  had  been  murdered,  were  determined  to  annihilate 
the  camp,  and  it  was  almost  impossible  to  restrain  them, 
esj)ecially  Company  A,  of  the  Sixth  Minnesota,  which  had 
suffered  so  severely  at  Birch  Coolie;  but  wiser  counsels  pre- 
vailed. 

After  the  Indians  had  been  secured,  and  the  captives 
released,  we  went  among  them  and  lis^med  to  the  recital 
of  experiences  that  would  make  the  blood  of  any  ordinary 
mortal  boil  with  indignation,  and  it  was  a  miracle  that  the 
soldiers  did  not  take  the  matter  in  hand  and  then  and 
there  forever  settle  the  Indian  question.  The  orders  were 
very  strict  about  guarding  the  Indians,  but  on  the  sly  many 
acts  of  cruelty  were  indulged  in  by  the  soldiers  that  would 
hardly  be  warranted,  for  we  should  not  for  a  moment 
forget  the  fact  that  they  were  our  prisoners  and  we  were 
not  savages  and  .should  not  indulge  in  savage  propensities. 

Colonel  Henry  Hastings  Sibley  at  Camp  Release  received 
a  notification  of  his  deserved  promotion,  and  we  shall 
hereafter  speak  of  him  as  General  Sibley. 

During  our  stay  at  Camp  Release  we  were  daily  drilling 
by  company  and  battalion,  and  perfecting  ourselves  in  all 
things  pertaining  to  soldier  life.  We  had  a  s])lendid  camp- 
ing place  on  the  broad  prairie  near  the  river  bank,  but  the 
cold  nights  reminded  us  that  winter  quarters  would  soon 
be  more  comfortable  than  the  open  prairie,  and  the  rations 
were  getting  rather  scarce.  "Fall  in  for  grub"  ordinarily 
is  quite  as  welcome  to  the  hungry  soldier  as  is  the  gong  at 
a  fashionable  hotel  to  the  fashionable  guest.  Itow  we 
jumped  for  the  haversack  containing,  not  solid  silver,  but 
tin  cup,  tin  plate,  knife,  fork  and  spoon,  and  fell  in  line 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


145 


|l 


according  to  our  agility  to  get  there,  and  not  according  to 
size,  so  as  to  give  the  ponies  an  equal  chance  with  the  tall 
men,  whose  place  is  on  the  right  when  in  parade.  Each 
received  his  ration  of  cott'ee,  hard  tack,  pork  and  beans, 
irrespective  of  size,  weight  or  previous  condition. 

Commissary  stores  at  C^amp  Helease  were  getting  very 
low  and  the  supply  train  was  not  yet  due  by  several  days' 
march,  so  it  became  necessary  to  count  out  the  crackers — 
five  crackers  to  each  man  for  a  day,  and  no  pie  or  straw- 
berries and  cream  for  dessert.  From  five  we  were  reduced 
to  three,  and  then  there  was  nothing  left  but  the  bottom 
of  the  barrels.  There  was  some  ear  corn,  but  a  guard  was 
placed  over  that  to  keep  it  safe  for  the  horses  and  mules. 
Every  mule  was  honored  with  a  guard  during  his  meal 
hour  to  prevent  the  "boys  in  blue"  from  appropriating  the 
precious  ear  for  his  own  use.  No  coffee,  no  meal,  no  hard- 
tack, but  there  was  a  load  of  potatoes  remaining,  and  when 
the  call  to  grub  sounded,  again  we  scrambled  into  line  to 
receive  our  ration  for  the  day,  which  was — one  potato.  Just 
after  we  received  this  potato  ration  the  commissary  train 
hove  in  sight  under  strong  guard  with  three  days'  rations, 
which  were  issued  to  the  hungry  soldiers,  and  the  indica- 
tions were  that  the  command  would  soon  move. 


K 


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i   i 


'IW 


146 


MINNL'JSOTA    MAJSiS ACHE— 1862. 


CMAPTEH    XXIl. 


THE  INDIAN  PRISHNERS— ^^HE  TRIAL. 


Hi'l  '^^■ 


After  liberating  the  captives  it  became  necessary  to  at 
once  proceed  aj^ainst  tlie  Indians,  ind  to  this  end  the 
General  a])pointed  a  commission  con -isting  of  Colonel 
William  Crooks,  president;  iJeiitenant-Colonel  William  R. 
Marshall,  Captains  IF.  P.  (irant,  U.  S.  liailey  and  Rollin 
C.  Olin  and  Lientenant  I.  V.  1).  Heard  as  recorder.  The 
Indians  weie  pro))erlY  represented,  and  through  an  inter- 
preter understood  the  nature  of  the  charges  brought 
agair:tthem, 

Tl).e  res(  ued  white  captives,  as  soon  as  possible,  were 
sent  under  suitable  escort  to  Fort  Ridgely  and  then  for- 
warded to  their  friends.  As  before  narrated,  some  of  them 
had  formed  quite  strong  attachments  for  their  dusky  pro- 
tectors. 

And  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at.  Because  a  man's  skin 
is  red  or  black  it  does  not  follow  tb.at  his  heart  is  black. 
Th'  blacliest  hearts  the  world's  history  over  recorded  beat 
beneath  the  wl/itest  breasts. 

These  fi'iendly  Indians  were  in  a  very  small  minority, 
succeeded  in  saving  the  lives  of  the  captives.  It  was  a 
watch  by  day  and  by  night,  and  through  a  bold  determina- 
tion, that  the  few  friendly  ones  succeeded  in  saving,  as  they 


» 

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Minnesota  MAibSACRE—i862. 


i4d 


did,  these  captives,  and  they  would  be  less  than  human 
if  they  did  not  form  strong  attachments  for  their  dusky 
friends. 

After  the  departure  of  the  white  captives,  the  Indian 
trial  proceeded,  but  for  good  reasons  the  General  concluded 
to  move  the  camp  down  to  the  Lower  Agency  on  the  Red 
Wood  River.  The  Indian  camp,  mostly  made  up  of  women 
and  children,  had  been  moved  from  Yellow  Medicine  to 
this  place,  where  the  trial  still  progressed. 

It  was  really  amusing  to  sit  by  and  listen  to  the  testimony 
given  in  by  the  Indians  through  their  interpreter.  They 
were  nearly  all  like  the  white  criminals  of  to-day — inno- 
cent. I  will  only  record  a  few.  Cut  Nose,  for  instance, 
will  be  a  fair  example  of  others,  who  were  as  guilty  wretches 
as  ever  escaped  the  immediate  vengeance  of  an  outraged 
people. 

The  bloody  old  chief  tried  to  play  the  innocent  by  saying 
ho  was  not  in  the  battles  to  hurt  anyone.  He  was  most 
always  there,  but  he  was  engaged  in  some  innocent  pas- 
time, such  as  feasting  on  roast  beef  and  green  corn,  while 
his  comrades  of  the  paint  and  fea^^  -^rs  were  killing  people 
by  the  score.  If  he  fired  at  all  a  was  at  random  and 
nobody  was  hurt.  He  would  steal,  but  thnt  was  for  the 
benefit  of  his  wife;  she  insisted  upon  his  doinsr  something 
towards  the  support  of  herself  and  their  Indian  kids;  but 
as  for  killing  anyone,  oh!  no,  he  could  not  think  of  that 
for  a  minute. 

We  have  his  picture  here,  and  his  looks  are  a  "dead  give- 
away;" and,  besides,  twenty-seven  murders  were  traced 
directly  to  him,  and  his  protestation  of  "me  good  Tni-  ii" 
all  went  for  nought.  He  was  a  notoriously  bad  Indian; 
lie  was  so  adjudged  by  the  commission,  who  condemned 


! 


m 

1 

m 


■l 


11' 


*:!- 


150 


MINNESO  TA    MA^a/SA  CRE—1862. 


him  to  death,  and  he  finally  dangled  at  one  end  of  a  hempen 
cord. 

Another  one,  prematurely  gray,  thought  this  ought  to 
be  evidence  in  his  favor,  and  others  protested  that  they 


CUT-NOBB, 


Who  killed  twenty-seven  persons,  and 
was  hanpred. 

were  too  weak  to  face  fire;  others,  that  their  lives  were 
threatened  and  they  were  compelled  to  go  on  the  war  path; 
others,  that  they  slept  while  their  more  wakeful  companions 
fought;  and  one  old  man  who  said  he  was  fifty  years  old 


MINNESOTA,  MASSACRE— 1862. 


151 


;i 


a  great  many  years  ago,  thought  he  might  be  excused,  but 
a  boy  swore  straight  against  him  and  said,  "I  saw  tliat  man 
kill  my  mother,"  which  solemn  words  settled  the  prisoner's 
fate. 

This  Indian  was  "Round  Wind,"  but  it  was  afterwards 
shown  that  he  was  not  there  and  he  was  reprieved  just 
before  the  day  set  for  the  execution. 

Among  the  Indian  prisoneis  were  some  who  had  been 
enlisted  in  the  "Eenville  Kang-rs,"  and  had  deserted  to 
their  1.  lends — our  enemies.  These  rangers  were  all  Indians 
and  half-breeds,  and  it  was  largely  from  this  fact  that  the 
Indians  conceived  the  idea  that  all  the  white  men  had  left 
the  state  and  that  the  time  w^as  propitious  for  the  Indians 
to  strike  to  regain  their  territory. 

It  was  proven  conclusively  that  these  men  had  been 
in  all  the  battles,  and  at  Wood  Lake  one  of  them  had 
taken  the  first  scalp,  and  this  from  an  old  man  and  a 
former  comrade  in  his  company.  For  this  he  received  one 
of  the  two  belts  of  wampum  which  had  been  promised  by 
Little  Crow  as  a  reward  for  killing  the  first  white  man. 
These  men  all  ofi'ered  excuses,  but  the  evidence  was  so 
overwhelmingly  against  them  that  they  also  were  con- 
demned to  death. 

It  w^as  necessary  to  make  an  indiscriminate  capture  of 
the  Indians  and  then  investigate  their  several  cases  to  find 
out  the  guilty  ones,  because,  there  were  many  among  them 
who  no  doubt  had  been  compelled  to  participate  in  the 
fights  we  had  with  them  at  Birch  Coolie  and  Wood  Lake, 
and  only  kept  with  the  hostiles  from  policy  and  to  save 
the  lives  of  the  white  people.  To  these  and.  a  good  old 
squaw,  well  known  in  St.  Paul  and  other  parts  of  the 
Union  as  "Old  Betz,"  over  400  persons  owe  their  lives. 


m 


■s 


'I 


m 


m 


152 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


"Old  Betz"  has  gone  to  her  reward  in  the  happy  hunting 
grounds,  having  Uved  over  seventy-five  years.  She  was  a 
good  woman  and  a  good  friend  to  the  early  settlers  of  Min- 
nesota. Others  who  were  friendly  to  the  whites  and  loyal 
to  their  great  father  at  Washington  were  liberated,  and  the 
guilty  placed  under  strong  guard. 


m 


u  * 


WD  BRZ. 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1S62, 


153 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 


CAPTURE  OF  RENEGADE   BANDS— MIDNIGHT   MARCH. 


\i 


'■I 


General  Sibley  was  apprised  by  his  scouts  that  there 
were  several  lodges  of  Indians  up  around  Goose  Nest  Lake, 
and  also  near  the  mouth  of  the  Lac-qui-Parle  River,  and 
he  dispatched  Lieutenant-Colonel  Marshall  with  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  (havi-^g  six  days'  rations)  to  bring  them 
in.  The  little  expedition  started  at  midnight.  They  did 
not  find  Indians  at  the  point  designated,  but  struck  across 
the  country,  and  by  a  forced  march  of  forty-five  miles, 
found  two  lodges.  They  took  the  young  men  prisoners, 
but  the  women  and  children  were  placed  in  charge  of  the 
old  men  and  sent  away  with  instructions  to  report  at 
Camp  Release,  which  they  did  in  due  time.  Colonel  Mar- 
shall heard  of  twenty-seven  lodges  at  a  place  described  as 
Two  Wood  Lake,  but  upon  arriving  there,  found  the  place 
deserted,  the  enemy  leaving  behind  for  the  benefit  of  other 
Indians,  a  sign  indicating  that  they  had  left  two  days 
before.  In  order  to  catch  them,  the  infantry  were  in- 
structed to  follow,  while  the  cavalry,  with  a  howitzer, 
pushed  on  as  fast  as  possible,  and  about  midnight  on  the 
IGth  the  detachment  came  up  to  the  Indians,  who,  unsus- 
pecting, were  enjoying  their  sleep.  The  barking  of  the 
dogs  awoke  them,  and  they  realized  that  something  un- 
usual was  about  to  occur.    Peering  out  through  the  open- 


Mi  i 
1^)1 


•1 


I 


t  '■■: 


kit' 


154 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


Pi^: 


ing  of  their  tepees,  they  saw  horsemen  and  at  once  suspected 
they  were  soldiers.  The  half-breed  scouts  called  upon 
them  to  surrender  and  they  would  not  be  harmed.  Some 
of  the  younger  men  started  to  run  away,  but  they  were 
overtaken  and  all  made  prisoners.  In  their  conversation 
with  the  interpreter  they  said  they  would  have  given  them- 
selves up,  but  were  afraid  to  do  so.  They  said  they  knew 
that  starvation  stared  them  in  the  face,  because  a  cold 
winter  was  at  hand,  their  provisions  were  all  gone,  and 
that  for  the  sake  of  their  families  they  were  glad  to  be 
caught.  They  said  also  that  Little  Crow  and  some  of  his 
immediate  followers  had  gone  farther  north,  near  Devil's 
Lake. 

The  game  having  been  successfully  bagged.  Colonel 
Marshall  hastened  with  the  prisoners  back  to  Camp  Ke- 
lease,  where  everything  was  in  readiness  for  a  move  down 
to  Red  Wood. 

Among  the  Indians  was  a  negro  by  the  name  of  God- 
frey. He  had  never  known  any  other  people  and  was 
totally  ignorant  concerning  his  parentage;  but  he  was 
among  them,  taking  part  in  all  their  battles,  and  a  very 
active  part,  too,  for  the  charge  against  him  was  "murder," 
in  that  with  his  own  hand  he  had  killed  seven  white  men, 
women  and  children.  He  said  he  was  not  guilty.  It  is 
often  thus — guilty  men  are  innocent  in  their  own  estima- 
tion. Mr.  0-ta-kle  (Godfrey),  was  in  his  own  opinion  one 
of  this  sort.  Certain  it  was,  he  had  been  enthusiastic  over 
the  prospect  of  the  excitement  that  would  follow  a  general 
uprising,  for  he  put  on  a  breech-clout  and  decorated  his 
black  face  and  legs  in  all  the  gorgeous  hues  of  Indian  war 
paint.  He  could  "whoop"  as  loud  and  yell  as  fiercely  as 
the  best  of  them,  and  when  the  Indians  returned  from  one 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


155 


of  their  raids  he  was  accounted  one  of  the  bravest  of  their 
warriors.  He  admitted  that  he  had  killed  seven;  this  he 
did,  however,  to  his  Indian  comrades,  whea  it  would,  if 
a  fact,  add  feathers  to  his  coronet  and  renown  to  his  cruel 
record;  but,  when  confronted  by  thf  men  who  '^ould  pass 
judgment  against  him  if  found  guilty,  he  was  the  most 
innocent  creature  in  all  the  world.  In  his  hesitating, 
broken  way  of  speaking,  he  gave  a  minute  account  of  his 
whereabouts.  There  was  no  direct  evidence  against  him, 
excepting  his  own  confession  to  his  comrades  that  he  was 
with  the  Indians  in  all  their  raids  and  that  he  had  killed 
seven  people.  In  his  earnest  denial  of  the  fact,  he  had  such 
an  honest  look,  and  spoke  with  such  a  truthful  tone,  that 
the  court,  although  prejudiced  against  him,  were  inclined 
to  listen  to  his  story  with  a  reasonable  degree  of  favor; 
yet  he  was  finally  found  guilty  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged, 
the  verdict  being  accompanied  with  a  recommendation  that 
his  punishment  be  commuted  to  imprisonment  for  ten 
years.  He  did  not  go  to  prison,  but  was  sent  to  a  reserva- 
tion and  compelled  to  stay  there.  Who  he  was,  or  where 
he  came  from,  no  one  seemed  to  know,  and  he  could  re- 
member nothing  beyond  his  hfe  among  the  Indians. 


■  !•■ 

;»    i 


M 


11 1 


'1% 


1 


m 


m 


i<:    '      li 


156 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862, 


CHAPTEK    XXIV. 


HOMEWARD  BOUND. 


'  Reveille." 

**We  start  for  home  to-morrow  morning,"  were  the  glad- 
some words  passed  around  the  camp-fire  on  the  evening  of 
the  22d  of  October.  The  nights  were  getting  chilly,  and 
the  shortening  days  indicated  that  the  autumn  was  fast 
passing  away,  and  that  warmer  quarters  than  our  tents 
would  soon  be  an  absolute  necessity.  The  contemplation 
of  the  homeward  march  was  a  pleasure,  for  there  were  ties 
of  friendship  there  that  forbade  procrastination.  A  sad 
thought  came  over  us  as  we  remembered  the  poor  fellows 
who  had  given  up  their  lives — their  waiting  ones  at  home 
would  wait  in  ^ain. 

Reveille  sounded  early  one  morning,  and  after  a  hurried 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


157 


breakfast  of  coffee  and  hard  tack,  the  headquarters  bugle 
sounded  "strike  tents,"  and  the  city  of  canvas  was  soon 
razed  to  the  ground.  With  the  captives  and  prisoners  we 
took  up  our  line  of  march  for  Yellow  Medicine,  where  the 
commission  appointed  by  the  General  tried  and  condemned 
305  Indians  to  hang. 

The  morning  we  left  Camp  Release  the  sun  shone  bright- 
ly, the  sky  was  clear,  but  there  was  frost  in  the  air;  and, 
as  we  were  on  very  short  rations  and  only  one  blanket  each, 
we  were  in  high  glee  as  we  marched  out  to  the  music  of 
the  band.  I  think  our  steps  were  more  than  the  regula- 
tion twenty-eight  inches,  for  we  were  headed  tort'ards  God's 
country — home.  About  four  p.  m.  the  fierce  fall  wind 
veered  around  in  our  faces,  and  coming  as  it  did  off  the 
burnt  prairie,  our  faces  soon  presented  the  appearance  of 
men  from  the  interior  of  Africa.  We  were  black  in  the 
face.  At  five  o'clock  we  went  into  camp.  It  was  pitch 
dark,  with  the  wind  blowing  a  hurricane,  and  in  the  dark- 
ness, infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery  were  one  interminable 
mass  of  troops  and  order  was  impossible.  So  the  orders 
were:  "By  company,  left  wheel,  halt;"  "stack  arms;" 
"break  ranks,"  with  orders  to  pitch  tents  and  get  under 
cover.  To  make  fires  and  cook  supper  was  impossible,  so 
we  supped  on  raw  salt  pork,  hard  tack,  and  cold  water.  The 
Sibley  tents  blew  down  as  fast  as  put  up,  and  in  this  condi- 
tion we  crawled  under  them  to  get  the  best  protection 
possible  from  the  fierce  northern  blast.  Some  of  the  men 
had  found  potato  cellers  that  had  been  dug  in  the  hillside 
by  the  Indians,  and  taking  possession  of  them  were  thus 
afforded  good,  warm  quarters  and  plenty  of  potatoes  to  eat. 
In  this  respect  they  were  much  more  fortunate  than  the 
rest  of  lis  who  were  on  the  outside  and  had  all  we  coiild  do 


i^ 


I 


m 


;™1 


I.'jS 


MINN  ESQ  TA    MASSA  ORE— 1862. 


f' 


to  keep  from  freezing  to  death.  Tlie  storm  abated  some- 
what by  morning,  so  we  coiiJd  make  our  ilres,  wiiich  we 
did,  and  availed  ourselves  of  tlie  Indian  i)()tatoes,  and  with 
salt  pork,  hard  tack  and  coll'ee  made  a  hearty  breakfast  and 
were  soon  on  the  march  again. 

The  exi)osure  of  that  nigiit  gave  many  of  us  the  rlieuma- 
tism,  and  it  took  several  hours'  march  to  get  ourselves  lim- 
bered up,  but  the  day  was  bright  and  we  were  homeward 
bound.  We  made  a  good  day's  march,  and  pitched  our 
tents  in  the  valley  of  the  lied  Wood. 

The  Indian  camp,  consisting  principally  of  women  and 
children,  had  been  previously  removed  to  this  place  from 
Yellow  ]\Icdicine,  where  the  quartermaster  had  erected  a 
large  board  prison  to  hold  the  captive  red  men,  who  had 
all  been  condemned  by  the  Commission.  The  papei-s  had 
been  sent  on  to  President  Lincoln  for  his  final  decision, 
and  we  were  here  awaiting  developments. 

The  condemned  Indians  were  sent  under  strong  guard 
to  Camp  Sibley,  on  the  banks  of  the  Red  Wood  River. 
Thev  were  chained  toi^ether  and  kept  in  a  structure  built 
for  the  purpose,  and  their  s(|uaws,  v;\\o  were  camped  on 
the  outside,  were  allowed  to  cook  for  them  under  the  super- 
vision of  a  guard,  to  ]n'event  them  from  smuggling  knives 
or  a  weai)on  of  any  kind  on  the  inside  of  the  enclosure. 

After  a  week  or  ten  days  we  again  took  up  the  line  of 
march  to  a  destination  known  only  to  the  General  and  his 
Staff,  but  which  proved  to  be  that  the  Seventh  Minnesota, 
under  Colonel  William  R.  Marshall,  should  proceed  Avith 
the  prisoners  to  Mankato,  and  the  Sixth  INlinnesota,  under 
Colonel  Crooks,  should  report  at  Fort  Snelling  for  further 
orders.  The  two  regiments  marched  together  until  we 
reached  a  point  some  way  below  New  Ulm.     Nothing  of 


if. 


m 


■\  ;■'■■■ 


1; 

■K 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


161 


importance  took  place  until  we  reached  this  place.     The 

General  having  heard  that  the  citizens  had  determined  to 

kill  every  redskin  regardless  of  consequences  if  they  could 

possibly  get  hold  of  them,  took  precaution  against  it.     It 

was  said  that  every  house  was  supplied  with  hot  water,  hot 

soft  soap  and  anything  and  everything  that  ingenuity  could 

invent  to  inflict  sudden  and  sure  punishment,  and  death 

if  possible,  to  those  that  had  brought  such  woe  to  them. 
For  this  reason  the  Gf^neral  changed  his  course  somewhat, 

and  Leaking  a  detour  to  the  right,  escaped  the  necessity 
or  perhaps  bloodshed,  in  trying  to  save  his  captives  from  the 
hands  of  this  justly  furious  people.  Men  and  women  turned 
out  en  masse  and  hurling  imprecations,  flourishing  butcher 
knives,  table  knives,  and  even  scissors,  axes,  pitchforks — 
in  fact,  every  sort  of  weapon — seemed  determined  to  get  at 
them,  and  abused  soldiers  and  Indians  alike  because  they 
were  held  at  bay.  They  followed  us  for  two  or  three  miles 
before  they  became  convinced  that  the  General  was  deter- 
mined at  all  hazards  to  uphold  the  supremacy  of  the  govern- 
ment in  protecting  these  blood-stained  captives  from  the 
furies  of  a  people  who  had  suffered  so  much  at  the  hands 
of  some  of  their  tribes  in  the  murder  of  their  innocent 
women  and  children. 

At  a  point  below  New  TJlm  the  command  was  divided, 
a  portion  taking  all  the  condemned  men  to  Mankato,  and 
the  balance  of  the  command  proceeding  to  Fort  Snelling. 

At  Mankato,  as  the  days  wore  away  and  there  was  some 
doubt  as  to  what  the  final  decision  of  President  Lincoln 
would  be,  great  fear  was  entertained  that  there  would  be 
a  general  uprising  of  the  people,  and  an  attempt  made  to 
override  military  m^  cjyil  law  by  wresting  the  Indians 


ill  1 1 

•,i    : 

! 

'  ^ 


i. 


162 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 136'^. 


from  the  soldiers  and  instituting  a  general  massacre  of 
them,  irrespective  of  their  guilt  or  innocence,  but  Colonel 
Stephen  Miller,  the  post  commander,  having  determined 
that  law  and  not  lawlessness  should  prevail,  used  the  ut- 
most vigilance  to  defeat  any  such  undertaking. 


Minnesota  maJssacre—isg^. 


163 


CHAPTER    XXV. 


PROTESTS— PRESIDENT  LINCOLN'S   ORDER   FOR   THE 

EXECUTION. 


The  Indians  did  not  seem  to  feel  east  down;  some  in  fact 
appeared  rather  to  enjoy  the  situation;  others,  again,  were 
more  serious,  and  were  probably  speculating  as  to  the 
jjrobable  outcome  of  the  unfortunate  condition  of  affairs. 
The  soldiers  did  not  relish  the  idea  of  guarding  them,  and 
one  night  a  conspiracy,  which  I  overheard,  was  formed  to 
create  a  false  alarm  "in  the  camp  and  in  the  excitement  fall 
on  the  Indians  and  murder  them.  The  plot  leaked  out  and 
the  plan  miscarried,  as  it  should,  for  it  would  have  been 
rank  murder  to  have  executed  it.  Among  the  prisoners 
there  were  many  who  really  were  not  guilty,  but  had  been 
caught  in  bad  company.  The  prisoners  were  arraigned 
upon  written  charges  specifying  the  criminating  acts,  and 
these  charges  were  signed  by  General  Sibley,  and  with  but 
few  exceptions  were  based  on  information  furnished  by 
Rev.  S.  R.  Riggs,  who  had  long  been  a  missionary  among 
them.  The  majority  of  the  prisoners  were  condemned  to 
death,  and  the  news  reaching  the  East,  far  away  from  the 
scene  of  the  outrages,  petitions  went  in  from  many  New 
England  cities,  imploring  the  President  to  exercise  clem- 
ency toward  this  unfortunate  people.     He  yielded  to  the 


||l^ 


i- 


164 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE:— 186^. 


clamor  in  so  far  as  only  to  include  the  very  worst  char- 
acters among  them. 

Bishop  Whipple  said:  There  are  times  when  the  Chris- 
tian laborer  has  a  right  to  ask  for  the  sympathy,  the  pray- 
ers and  the  co-operation  of  our  fellow-citizens,  and  to  make 
a  strong  appeal  in  behalf  of  this  most  wretched  race  of 
heathen  men  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  The  responsibility," 
he  says,  "is  great,  the  fearful  issues  are  upon  us,  and  as 
we  are  to  settle  them  justly  or  unjustly  we  shall  receive 
the  blessing  or  curse  of  Almighty  God.  Many  of  these 
victims  of  savage  ferocity  were  my  friends.  They  had 
mingled  their  voices  with  mine  in  prayer;  they  had  given 
to  me  such  hospitality  as  can  only  be  found  in  the  log 
cabin  of  the  frontier;  and  it  tills  my  heart  with  grief,  and 
blinds  my  eyes  with  tears,  when  I  think  of  their  nameless 
graves.  It  is  because  I  love  them  and  would  save  others 
from  their  fate  that  I  ask  that  the  people  shall  lay  the 
blame  of  this  great  crime  where  it  belongs,  and  rise  up 
with  one  voice  to  demand  the  reform  of  the  atrocious  Indian 
system,  which  has  always  garnered  for  us  the  same  fruit 
of  anguish  and  blood. 

Thousands  of  miles  away  from  the  scene  of  the  outrages 
perpetrated  against  the  inoffensive  white  settlers,  protests 
were  sent  in  to  the  President  from  all  sorts  of  humanitari- 
ans, imploring  him  to  stay  the  sentence  that  condemned 
to  death  so  many  human  beings.  The  provocation  to  in- 
discriminately condemn  and  hang  was  very  great,  for  thou- 
sands of  innocents  had  been  ruthlessly  murdered;  no  mo- 
ments of  warning  were  given  them;  no  former  kindnesses 
seemed  to  be  remembered  by  the  Indians,  and  their  hands 
were  steeped  in  their  friends'  blood,  and  there  seemed  no 
palliating  circumstances.  The  enormity  of  the  outbreak 
and  the  fiendish  cruelty  of  the  redskins  were  appalling; 
the  people  were  paralyzed  with  astonishment  and  fear,  and 
the  witnesses,  no  doubt  mistaken  and  prejudiced,  gave  such 


if 


' 


B 


S 


I 


'Ai 


ill 


r,i 


i!'! 


Ill: 


;  i 


^--■;yt*^-i-a.>^. ,A->..W1.  Ml-  ifiii— fclWB 


!  P  B 


II 


Mi'  ■ 


■■■'    I'l 


^ 


IPT 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


1G7 


positive  testimony  that  the  commission  felt  satisfied  in  pro- 
nouncing them  guilty  of  murder  in  the  first  degree;  but 
would  this  have  been  the  case  if  these  prisoners  had  been 
white  instead  of  red? 

No  doubt  General  Sibley  himself  was  surprised  when  he 
learned  of  the  indiscriminate  condemnation  of  these  pris- 
oners, and  was  glad  not  to  be  held  responsible  for  their 
hanging. 

It  is  a  fact  that  there  were  Indians  found  with  arms  in 
their  hands  in  nearly  all  the  battles,  but  their  object  was 
to  protect  the  women  and  children  prisoners,  and  they  said 
they  must  make  a  show  of  fighting  whether  they  did  or  not 
in  order  to  accomplish  this.  It  would  have  been  a  great 
stain  on  the  fair  name  of  our  country  if  this  wholesale  hang- 
ing had  occurred,  and  President  Lincoln  acted  wisely  in 
overruling  the  recommendation  of  the  commission,  which 
he  did  to  such  an  extent  as  to  sanction  the  execution  of 
thirtv-nine  of  the  condemned  men,  and  the  balance  to  bo 
further  held  as  prisoners  until  he  should  designate  a  reser- 
vation to  which  they  should  be  sent.  During  the  time  the 
preparations  were  being  made  to  carry  out  the  President's 
order  the  people  were  clamorous.  They  were  not  satisfied 
with  the  modification  of  the  President's  order,  and  grave 
rumors  were  abroad  that  there  would  be  a  vigorous  effort 
made  to  take  the  Indians  from  the  soldiers  and  have  a 
wholesale  execution,  but  the  military  authorities  prevented 
it. 

The  President  acted  wisely  in  this  matter.  In  fact, 
the  state  of  the  public  mind  was  such  and  the  pressure 
within  our  lines  was  exercised  to  such  a  degree  that 
the  President  could  do  nothing  less.  If  all  the  con- 
demned Indians  had  been  executed  the  impression  would 


>  1 


I  ii 


m 


J 

3 


168 


MiK^ESOTA  Massacre— 186^. 


V  ■■ 


have  gone  abroad  that  the  great  government  of  the  United 
States  was  putting  to  death  its  prisoners  of  war,  and  this 
would  have  done  much  toward  bringing  about  a  recogni- 
tion of  the  Soutliern  Confederacy. 
The  President's  order  was  as  follows: 

"Executive  Mansion, 
"Washington,  December  6,  18G3. 
"Brigadier-General  H.  H.  Sibley,  St.  Paul,  Minn.: 

"Ordered,  that  the  Indians  and  half-breeds  sentenced 
to  be  hanged  by  the  military  commission,  composed  of 
Colonel  Crooks,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Marshall,  Captain 
Grant,  Captain  Bailey  and  Lieutenant  Olin,  and  lately  sit- 
ting in  Minnesota,  you  cause  to  be  executed  on  Friday,  the 
19th  day  of  December,  instant. 

"The  other  condemned  prisoners  you  will  hold  subject 
to  further  orders,  taking  care  that  they  neither  escape  nor 
are  subjected  to  any  unlawful  violence. 

"Abraham  Lincoln, 
"President  of  United  States." 

The  execution  was  carried  out  on  the  26th  of  December, 
1862.    Thirty-eight  were  hanged. 


Minnesota  MAssACRE^mt         I69 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 


THE  EXECUTION— THE  NIGHT  BEFORE. 


( r» 


!l 


The  date  of  the  execution  was  fixed  for  December  2G, 
1862.  On  the  22d  instant  the  condemned  prisoners  were 
separated  from  the  others,  and  on  the  same  day  Colonel 
Stephen  Miller  (afterwards  Governor),  who  was  in  com- 
mand, through  the  interpreter.  Rev.  Mr.  Riggs,  called 
upon  the  condemned  and  announced  the  decision  of  the 
Great  Father  at  Washington.   He  said: 

Tell  these  thirty-nine  condemned  men  that  the  com- 
manding officer  of  this  place  has  called  to  speak  to  them 
on  a  serious  subject  this  afternoon.  Their  Great  Father 
at  Wasliington,  after  carefully  reading  what  the  witnesses 
testified  to  in  their  several  trials,  has  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  they  have  been  guilty  of  murdering  his  white 
children;  and,  for  this  reason,  has  directed  that  each  be 
hanged  by  the  neck  until  dead  next  Friday  at  ten  a.  m. 

That  good  ministers,  both  Catholic  and  Protestant,  are 
here,  and  can  commune  with  them  for  the  remaining  four 
days  they  have  to  live. 

That  I  will  now  cause  to  be  read  the  letter  from  their 
Great  Father  at  Washington,  first  in  English  and  then  in 
their  own  language. 

Say  to  them,  now,  that  they  have  so  sinned  against 
their  fellow-men,  that  there  is  no  hope  for  clemency  except 
in  the  mercy  of  God,  through  the  merits  of  the  blessed 
Redeemer;  and  that  I  earnestly  exhort  them  to  applv  to 


•^  ill 
■  'Hi 


y 


■  *?' 


(I 


170 


MLVX/'JSO  7\  1    M. !  SS.  I  rUE-lSG^. 


i<' 


tliiiU  as  tlicif  only  rciujiiiiiii;^-  source  of  comrorl  and  conso- 
lation. 

licv.  Mr.  Iiiiiu's,  llu'  inl('r|)r('ti'i',  liad  been  a  missionary 
anion^-  llicni  Tor  twonty-livc  years,  and  lie  had  known 
tlicni  intimately,  and  it  pained  him  sorely  to  be  obliged  to 
convey  to  them  as  an  interpreter  the  words  that  were  to 
condemn  them  to  death.     In  so  doing  he  said: 

I  have  known  yon  for  many  years;  I  have  pointed  yon 
to  the  cross;  endeavored  to  prayerfully  convince  you  that 
allegiance  to  (Jod,  and  the  (ireat  Father  at  Washington, 
was  your  duty.  J  have  with  a  broken  heart  witnessed 
your  cruelty  to  inoll'ensive  men,  women  and  children; 
cruelty  to  your  best  friends.  Y^)u  have  stained  your  hands 
in  innocent  blood,  and  now  the  law  holds  you  to  strict 
accountability.  It  ])ains  me  to  inform  you  that  your  (Jreat 
Father  in  Wasliington  says  you  must  die  for  yo'  •  cruelty 
and  murders,  and  1  am  directed  to  inform  you  tli.it  on  the 
2()th  day  of  February  you  will  be  hanged  by  the  neck  until 
you  are  dead,  and  may  (jlod  have  mercy  on  your  souls. 

The  2)risoners  received  the  sentence  rather  coolly;  some 
smoking  their  pi))es  composedly  during  its  reading,  one  of 
them  knocking  the  ashes  out  of  his  pipe,  and  another  put- 
ting in  his  a  fresh  supj)]y  of  Kinnikinick.  On  Tuesday 
evening  they  held  a  death  dance,  accompanied  by  wild 
Indian  songs,  and  there  were  some  fears  that  the  excite- 
ment nught  cause  an  attempt  to  make  an  escai)e  or  create 
a  panic;  so,  i)recautionary  measures  were  taken.  The  In- 
dians' friends  and  families  were  permitted  to  visit  them 
and  take  a  last  farewell.  It  was  a  solemn  time  even  to. 
the  white  soldiers,  for  it  was  plainly  evident  that  while 
there  was  a  lack  of  such  demonstration  as  W'ould  be  wit- 
nessed among  the  whites  under  similar  circumstances,  yet 
to  the  observant  eye  only,  it  was  plain  to  be  seen  that  deep, 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


171 


deep  grief  had  taken  possession  of  tlieir  hearts.  There  were 
few  tears;  no  liysteries,  but  profoiuul  sorrow  was  depleted 
on  the  countenauees  as  tlie  parliii^^  word  was  said,  and 
messages  sent  to  eliilihvn  and  friends.  Some  were  eom- 
pletely  overcome;  others  in  bravado  huighed  and  joked  as 
if  it  were  an  every-day  oeeiirrenee.  One  said:  "Yes,  tell 
our  friends  that  we  are  being  removed  from  this  world 
over  the  same  path  they  must  shortly  travel.  We  go 
first." 

Many  spoke  in  a  mournful  tone;  in  fact,  tlie  majority 
of  tliem  desired  to  say  sonu'thing,  and  witli  one  or  two 
exceptions  they  seemed  to  be  i)enitent.  Wliy  shouUl  they 
not?  Tlieir  white  brethren  under  like  circumstances  are 
accorded  religious  ])rivileges.  They  re})ent  and  accept  the 
invitation,  "Come  unto  jMe  all  ye  who  are  weary  and  heavy 
laden  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  The  thief  on  the  cross 
repented.  Could  not  an  ignorant,  misguided  Indian  under 
religious  instruction  receive  light  and  repent? 

The  night  before  the  execution  Colonel  Miller  received 
a  stay  for  one  of  the  condemned,  as  strong  doubt  existed 
as  to  his  participation  in  the  murders,  and  he  was  finally 
pardoned. 

It  has  been  said  that  in  the  excitement  of  the  prepara- 
tions for  the  execution  that  the  wrong  man  was  pardoned. 
He  was  guilty,  but  the  innocent  man  suffered  in  his  stead. 
The  last  night  was  spent  by  the  prisoners  in  quite  a  jolly 
camp-fire,  chatting  merrily  and  smoking  to  their  hearts' 
content. 

Father  Ravoux,  a  Catholic  priest  from  St.  Paul,  re- 
mained with  them  all  night  administering  consolation  and 
communion,  and  the  more  serious  of  them  listened  atten- 
tively to  his  words  of  comfort.     In  the  morning,  as  the 


n 


i 
i 


■Ill 


mmm 


PI 


172 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


A 


hour  for  the  execution  approached,  and  while  Father 
llavoux  was  speaking  to  the  Indians,  the  provost  marshal 
entered  and  whispered  something  to  the  good  priest,  who 
in  turn  spoke  in  French  to  one  of  the  half-breeds,  and  he 
repeated  it  in  Dakota  to  the  Indians,  who  were  all  lying 
down  around  the  prison.  The  information  he  gave  was  that 
the  hour  had  arrived  when  they  were  to  march  to  the 
gallows.  In  a  moment  every  Indian  stood  erect,  and  as 
the  provost  marshal  opened  the  door  they  fell  in  behind 
him  with  the  greatest  alacrity.  Indeed,  a  notice  of  release, 
pardon  or  reprieve  could  not  have  induced  them  to  leave 
their  cells  with  more  apparent  willingness  than  this  call 
to  death.  At  the  foot  of  the  steps  there  was  no  delay. 
Captain  Redfield  mounted  the  drop,  at  the  head,  and  the 
Indians  crowded  after  him,  as  if  it  were  a  race  to  see  who 
would  get  there  first.  They  actually  crowded  on  each 
other's  heels,  and  as  they  got  to  the  top,  each  took  his  posi- 
tion, without  any  assistance  from  those  who  were  detailed 
for  that  purpose.  They  still  kept  up  a  mournful  wail,  and 
occasionally  there  would  be  a  piercing  scream.  The  ropes 
were  soon  arranged  around  their  necks  without  the  least 
opposition  being  offered.  The  white  caps,  which  had  been 
placed  on  the  tops  of  their  heads,  were  now  drawn  down 
over  their  faces,  shutting  out  forever  the  light  of  day  from 
their  eyes.  Then  ensued  a  scene  that  can  hardly  be  de- 
scribed and  can  never  be  forgotten.  All  joined  in  shouting 
and  singing,  as  it  appeared  to  those  who  were  ignorant  of 
the  language.  The  tones  seemed  somewhat  discordant, 
and  yet  there  was  harmony  in  it.  It  was  not  their  voices 
alone,  but  their  bodies  swayed  to  and  fro,  and  their  every 
limb  seemed  to  be  keeping  time.  The  drop  trembled  and 
shook  as  if  all  were  dancing.    The  most  touching  scene  on 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862, 


173 


the  drop  was  their  attempt  to  grasp  each  other's  hands, 
fettered  as  they  were.  They  were  very  close  to  each  other, 
and  many  succeeded.  Three  or  four  in  a  row  were  hand 
in  liand,  and  all  hands  swaying  up  and  down  with  the  rise 
and  fall  of  their  voices.  One  old  man  reached  out  on  each 
side,  but  could  not  grasp  a  hand;  his  struggles  were  piteous 
and  affected  many  beholders. 

Those  who  understood  their  manners  and  language  said 
that  their  singing  and  shouting  was  necessary  to  sustain 
each  other.  Each  one  shouted  his  own  name  and  called  on 
the  name  of  his  friend,  saying  in  substance:  "I  am  here!  I 
am  here!" 

The  supreme  moment  arrived,  and  amid  an  immense 
concourse  of  citizens  and  soldiers  the  drop  fell,  and  thirty- 
eight  human  beings,  whose  hands  were  steeped  in  innocent 
blood  and  who  had  spread  such  desolation  and  sorrow  to 
thousands  of  happy  homes,  were  ushered  into  the  presence 
of  their  Maker. 

The  arrangements  were  under  the  immediate  super- 
vision of  Captain  Burt,  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  and  they 
were  so  complete  that  there  was  not  the  slightest  hitch. 

"Positions  of  honor  were  given  to  the  most  interested. 
For  instance,  the  cutting  of  the  rope  was  assigned  to  Will- 
iam J.  Daly,  of  Lake  Shetek,  who  had  three  children  killed 
and  his  wife  and  two  children  captured,  and  who  were  at 
this  time  in  the  hands  of  Little  Crow,  on  the  Missouri,  and 
were  afterward  ransomed  by  Major  Galpin  at  Fort  Pierre." 

The  quotation  I  make  here  is  from  a  book  in  the  public 
library,  and  I  found  penciled  on  the  margin  by  one  of 
those  persons  who  take  advantage  of  the  courtesies  extended 
by  public  libraries,  the  following: 

"So  should  every  remaining  Indian  be  'elevated'!"    Nay! 


\i 


ii 


.11.    nirr'.r iiTnniirn°'i 


i'i 


174 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


Nay!  scribbler.  Wo  cannot  tell  why  one  man's  face  is 
black  and  anotlier  red,  while  yours  and  mine  are  white. 
Would  you  mete  out  the  same  measure  to  the  whites?  In- 
nocency  among  the  Indians,  per  capita,  is  not  more  rare 
than  among  their  more  favored  white  brethren,  and  we  are 
brethren  of  a  dili'erent  hue.  Punish  the  guilty,  be  he 
white  or  black,  but  protect  the  innocent. 

After  the  bodies  had  hung  for  about  half  an  hour,  the 
physicians  oi  the  several  regiments  present  examined  them 
and  rcivil-r  !hat  life  was  extinct.  The  bodic  were  car- 
ried awj.y  in  United  States  mule  teams  and  dui;.pcd  in  one 
common  grave,  dug  in  the  sand  bar  in  front  of  the  city, 
the  half-breeds  in  one  corner  of  the  hole  so  they  might  be 
found  by  their  friends  if  they  so  desired.  There  may  be 
times  and  circumstances  when  a  Chris  ian  people  can  afford 
to  act  as  we  expect  the  benighted  to  do;  but  it  has  not 
arrived  yet.  No  matter  what  the  crime,  the  penally  has 
been  paid,  and  after  the  spirit  has  gone  to  God 
to  be  adjudged,  it  is  part  of  our  civilizaUon  to 
be  decent  in  our  conduct  toward  all  that  remains 
mortal.  It  is  not  necessary  to  make  a  great  dis- 
play, but  that  we  i)erform  our  duty  according  to  our  law. 
We  have  taken  a  life  in  accordance  with  a  human  law,  and 
in  justilication  of  it  we  quote,  "An  eye  for  an  eye  and  a 
tooth  for  a  tooth."  Xo  matter  how  atrocious  the  deed, 
after  the  penalty  l.as  been  paid  we  cannot  as  a  Christian 

people,  ai)ologize  for  our  acts  of  bavbarism  to  the  inanimate 
clay. 

After  the  mandate  of  the  President  bad  been  executed 
the  telegraph  flashed  to  Washington  the  following: 
,,^      ,  "^^t.  Pa  d,  Minn.,  r)ecend)er  'Zl,  1802. 

•To  the  President  of  the  United  States: 

''I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  the  thirty-eight 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862, 


175 


Indians  and  half-breeds,  ordered  by  you  for  execution^  were 
hung  on  yesterday  at  Mankato,  at  ten  a.  m.  Everything 
went  off  quietly,  and  the  other  prisoners  are  well  secured. 

"Henry  H.  Sibley, 
"Brigadier-General." 

With  this  the  curtain  drops  on  this  bloody  drama,  and 
thus  ended  the  great  Indian  campaign  of  18G3. 


B 


iHiHIll  iB<HiTil«W1»<>fl 


m 


176 


MINNESOTA   MA;SSACRE~1862. 


CIIAPTKK  XXVII. 


SQUAWS   TAKE   LEAVE    OF   THEIR  HUSBANDS. 


I 


1'^ 


The  condeiiincd  iiicn,  and  the  others  who  were  to  be 
deported  after  the  execution  took  ])lace,  were  called  upon 
to  bid  good-bye  to  their  wives  and  children,  who  were  to 
l)e  taken  down  to  Fort  Snelling.  Tlie  wives  were  allowed 
a  few  at  a  time  to  go  inside  tlie  jail  and  with  the  children 
have  words  of  conversation  with  the  husband  and  father. 
After  a  reasonable  time  they  took  k'ave  of  them.  There 
were  no  hysterics,  no  sobs,  no  tears,  but  the  heart-beats 
and  the  thoughts  were  tliere.  Love?  Yes.  How  deep, 
no  white  on-looker  could  tell.  It  was  a  supreme  moment 
to  the  poor  Indian  and  his  du-ky  wife.  Their  roads  were 
very  divergent  from  this  time,  and  in  low  tones  they 
answered  in  their  own  tongue.  Some  of  the  soldiers  made 
slighting  remarks,  but  there  arc  those  among  educated 
whites  who  have  no  serious  moments,  no  serious  thoughts; 
they  have  not  time  to  be  serious,  and  no  inclination;  but 
this  was  a  senous  time  for  those  ])oor  creatures;  they  knew 
the  hour  had  arrived  when  they  must  say  good-bye  forever 
on  earth  to  their  red-skinned  ])artners  in  life's  joys  and 
sorrows.  No  hand  shake;  no  embrace;  no  crving;  but 
a  sorrowful,  affectionate  look,  and  lliey  turn  their  back  on 
(hem   forever. 

Tlic  women  and  children  are  taken  down  to  Fort  Snell- 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


177 


ing,  and  in  a  camp  prepared  for  them  they  are  put  for  tlie 
winter,  and  a  strong  guard  placed  about  them  to  prevent 
any  outrages  being  committed.  The  night  the  news  was 
carried  to  them  of  the  execution  the  wails  of  the  poor 
crentures  could  be  heard  for  a  long  distance  away:  "Rachael 
mourning  for  her  children  and  would  not  be  comforted, 
because  they  were  not." 

Much  sorrow  was  expressed  for  them  because  we  could 
but  feel  that  they  were  unfortunate  creatures,  endowed 
with  all  the  attributes  of  human  beings. 

The  mortality  among  them  was  very  great  and  hundreds 
died  before  the  winter  of  suspense  Iiad  passed  away. 

In  April,  1803,  the  camp  was  broken  up  and  the  remain- 
ing ones  were  placed  in  a  steamer  for  St.  Louis,  from 
whence  they  were  to  be  sent  up  the  Missouri  River  to  the 
Crow  Creek  agency.  Some  died  on  the  way,  and  as  they 
left  their  homes  and  looked  for  the  last  time  on  their 
native  hills,  a  dark  cloud  was  crushing  out  their  hearts. 
Soon  after  landing  at  Crow  Creek  every  tepee  had  its  sick 
and  anxious  hearts — mothers  and  children  far  away  from 
their  dead. 

The  deported  ones  joined  their  families  in  time,  and  as 
the  years  glide  on  they  have  had  time  for  reflection,  and 
the  events,  as  they  undoubtedly  come  trooping  back  to 
them,  furnish  food  for  thought. 


I 

ilr 


i^ti.m-^ 


m 


l'!l 


(. 

■  i*    f 


tl,. 


178 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


CAPTURE    AND    RBLEASfi    OF    JOE    BROWN'S    INDIAN 

FAMILY. 


We  knew  Llajor  Brown  well.  He  was  known  to  nearly 
all  early  settlers,  because  he  came  to  Minnesota  when  the 
white  people  were  very  few.  He  felt  that  it  was  not  well 
for  man  to  live  alone,  a  white  man  especially,  and  so  he 
took  imto  himself  a  dusky  bride.  He  was  in  government 
employ  and  a  big  white  chief  among  his  new  found  wife's 
people  and  to  whom  he  was  a  friend. 

As  he  grew  in  years  his  family  grew  also,  and  the 
dusky  mother's  household  cares  increased.  Yes,  they  lived 
in  a  fine  stone  house,  elegantly  furnished,  down  on  the  Yel- 
low Medicine  below  the  agency,  but  which  came  in  the  way 
of  his  red  brother's  vengeance,  and  it  was  destroyed.  The 
Brown  family  lived  happily  in  their  rather  modern  home. 
The  Major  attended  to  his  official  duties,  and  the  wife  and 
boys  cultivated  the  land;  but  in  common  with  all  the 
others  during  these  sad  days,  their  only  safety  was  in  flight. 
Their  home,  including  books  and  furniture,  was  totally 
destroyed.  The  father  was  a  fugitive  and  his  family  pris- 
oners. They  did  not  suffer  as  some  others  did,  because  the 
wife  and  mother  was  a  full  blood,  and  was  related  to  the 


1 1 


1* 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


179 


Sisseton  tribe  and  had  powerful  friends  among  them.  Their 
capture,  captivity,  and  final  release,  as  related  by  Samuel 
Brown,  the  fifteen-year-old  boy,  is  an  interesting  recital. 
He  says: 

On  Monday,  the  18th  day  of  August,  I  went  to  Yellow 
Medicine  with  my  sister  Ellen  upon  an  errand.  We  met 
on  the  way  an  Indian  named  Little  Dog,  who  told  us  that 
the  Indians  had  killed  a  family  at  Beaver  Creek,  and  were 
going  to  kill  the  whites  as  far  as  St.  Paul,  and  that  we 
must  not  tell  any  one  about  it,  or  they  would  kill  us.  He 
said  he  warned  us  at  the  risk  of  his  own  life.  This  was 
about  noon.  Soon  after  our  arrival  at  Yellow  Medicine 
an  old  squaw  told  us  that  we  had  better  be  getting  away, 
as  there  would  be  trouble.  We  asked  many  of  the  other 
Indians  about  it,  but  they  said  they  had  heard  of  nothing 
of  the  kind.  Another  squaw  afterward  told  us  that  she 
thought  it  must  be  the  Yanktonais  who  were  coming  down 
to  take  the  agency.  We  left  them  about  half-past  three 
o'clock.  George  Gleason  had  just  left  with  Mrs.  Wake- 
field and  her  children  for  below.  When  we  reached  home 
we  told  mother  what  we  heard.  She  was  very  much  scared 
and  did  not  sleep  any  that  night.  About  four  I'clock 
next  morning  I  heard  some  one  outside  calling  in  a  loud 
voice  a  number  of  times  for  mv  mother,  and  then  I  heard 
Charles  Blair,  my  brother-in-law  (a  white  man),  ask  wliat 
was  the  matter,  and  the  man,  who  was  a  half-])recd  named 
Royer,  said  that  four  hundred  Yanktonais  had  ai-rived  at 
the  upper  agency  and  were  killing  everybody.  Wo  then 
became  very  much  alarmed,  and  had  our  oxen  yoked  at 
once  to  the  wagon,  put  everything  in  we  could,  and  started 
for  Fort  Ridgely.  We  hnd  nil  the  neighbors  wnrmd,  and 
they  went  wilii   us.     They  had   three   wagons,   with  ox 


;.   ?.' 


l; 


i-f  .t-- 


^If 


180 


MINNESOTA    MAS&ACRE—186t 


ii 


teams.  Four  or  five  white  men  overtook  us  on  the  road, 
among  them  (jarvey's  cook  (Garvey  was  the  trader 
wounded  at  the  agency,  and  who  afterward  died  at  Hutch- 
inson.) 

Wlicn  we  had  gone  about  five  miles  we  saw  some 
men  two  miles  ahead,  near  the  bank  of  the  river, 
but  supposed  they  were  farmers.  The  Yanktonais, 
whom  we  were  afraid  of,  lived  above  us.  We 
thought  nothing  about  the  men  until  we  saw  an  Indian 
on  a  hill  ahead  of  us.  lie  beckoned  to  others,  and  before 
we  knew  it  we  were  surrounded.  De-wa-nea,  of  Crow's 
band,  and  Cut-Nose  and  Shakopee,  three  of  the  worst 
among  the  Lower  Indians,  came  to  us  first.  We  were  in 
the  head  wagon.  Mother  told  them  who  we  were,  and 
they  said  we  must  follow  them,  and  that  we  were  all  as 
good  as  dead.  I)e-wa-nea  said  that  the  whites  had  taken 
him  prisoner  a  good  many  times  and  that  it  was  now  his 
turn.  He  wanted  the  rest  of  the  Indians  to  kill  us  all. 
There  was  an  Indian  in  the  party,  John  Moore's  brother- 
in-law,  who  took  our  part,  and  he  and  his  friends  saved  us 
from  the  others.  Tliis  Indian  had  once  come  to  our 
house  when  he  was  freezing  and  my  mother  took  him  in 
and  warmed  him.  lie  told  the  other  Indians  that  he  re- 
membered this,  and  that  we  should  live.  They  insisted 
that  my  brother  .Vngus  should  shoot  one  of  the  white  men, 
but  he  refused  to  do  so.  Each  of  the  Indians  had  one  of 
the  whites  picked  out  to  shoot  as  they  came  up.  My  mother 
said  tliey  wore  poor  men  and  it  would  do  no  good  to  kill 
them.  John  Moore's  brother-in-law  said  they  should  live 
if  she  wanted  them  to.  Tlie  Indians  made  a  great  fuss 
about  it,  and  said  she  ought  to  be  satisfied  with  what  she 
had  got,  but  afterwards  consented  and  told  the  men  to 


MINNESOTA   MAi^SA CIIE—1S62. 


181 


start  off.  The  women  stayed  with  us.  After  the  men  had 
got  olt'  a  littk',  Leopokl  Woliler,  wlio  liad  a  hme-kihi  at  the 
agency,  came  hack  to  the  wagon  after  liis  boots,  and  an 
Indian  tokl  liim  if  he  didn't  go  away  lie  would  kill  him.  lie 
started  off  with  one  boot,  and  came  back  again  for  the 
other,  and  the  Indian  drove  him  away  again  with  the  same 
threat.  lie  went  a  short  distance  and  came  back  amiin 
to  kiss  his  wife.  The  Indians  then  became  very  much 
enraged,  and  acted  so  fiercely  that  he  was  glad  to  escape 
without  further  difliculty.  There  were  ten  Indians  close 
to  us,  and  twenty-five  or  thirty  near,  running  into  the 
houses.  They  made  Angus  and  Charles  lihiir,  who  were 
riding  horses,  give  them  up.  De-wa-nea  put  on  my  sister's 
bonnet  and  began  singing  a  war  song,  lie  was  very  merry, 
lie  said  the  Indians  were  now  going  to  have  a  good  time, 
and  if  they  got  killed  it  was  all  right;  that  the  whites 
wanted  to  kill  them  off,  and  were  delaying  the  payment 
in  order  to  do  it  by  starvation,  and  that  he  })referred  to  be 
shot.  We  saw  three  men  and  a  woman  on  the  road  terri- 
bly hacked  up.  This  party  had  committed  the  nnirders. 
The  men  had  be(n  mowing  together;  their  scythes 
and  pitchforks  were  lying  near  by.  Cut-nose  showed 
us  his  thund),  from  which  a  piece  had  been  bitten 
near  the  nail,  and  he  said  it  was  done  by  oiu^  of  these  nu'n 
while  he  was  working  the  knife  around  in  his  breast;  that 
he  was  very  hard  to  kill,  and  he  thought  he  would  never 
die. 

Cut-nose  afterward  went  to  a  wagon  and  told  a  Scotch 
girl  who  was  in  it  that  he  wanted  hei-  for  his  wife,  and 
to  get  out  and  follow  him.  She  refused,  and  he  then  drew 
his  knife  and  flourished  it  oxor  her,  and  she  got  out  and 
went  awav  with  him.    That  was  the  last  I  saw  of  him  until 


?iy 


.•!»■■ 


IP 


Im4 


'!,! 


; .  1 

r .  > 


182 


MINNESOTA   MASSAJRE—1862. 


1.5 


we  got  to  camp.  lie  was  called  Cut-nose  because  one  of  liia 
nostrils  had  been  bitten  out.  This  was  done  by  Other  Day 
in  a  quarrel. 

When  we  reached  the  camp  of  the  Ked  Creek  Indians, 
four  miles  above  the  liedwood  River,  they  told  us  that  the 
Agency  Indians  had  sent  word  for  all  to  come  down  there, 
and  that  those  who  did  not  come  would  be  taken  care  of 
by  the  "Soldiers'  Lodge."  They  were  then  about  starting, 
and  an  Indian  made  Angus  and  myself  hitch  up  a  mule 
team  which  he  said  he  had  taken  from  Captain  Marsh's 
men  the  day  before.  He  said  they  had  just  heard  a  cannon 
at  the  fort  and  they  wanted  to  go  down  and  whip  the 
whites  there.  This  was  about  noon.  We  then  went  down 
to  John  Moore's  house  (this  was  where  Other  Day's  horse 
was  stolen),  and  they  put  us  upstairs,  where  they  had  two 
or  three  women  captives.  We  were  there  about  an  hour, 
when  three  Indians  told  us  to  come  up  to  their  camp  on  the 
hill,  where  we  were  to  stop  with  John  Moore's  mother, 
or  grandmother.  We  followed  them,  and  when  we  got  half- 
way up  suddenly  missed  theni.  We  supposed  they  hid 
from  us,  and  we  wandered  on.  We  met  a  German  woman 
who  had  seven  or  eight  children  with  her,  all  under  eight 
years  of  age, — two  on  her  back,  one  under  each  arm  and 
two  following  behind.  They  came  along  with  us.  We 
went  to  Moore's  relative,  but  she  said  she  knew  nothing 
about  us  and  couldn't  take  us,  and  tliat  we  had  better  go 
down  to  Crow's  Village.  W^e  started,  not  knowing  where 
to  go,  when  a  squaw,  who  was  crying  about  the  troubles, 
met  us,  and  took  us  home  with  her.  The  Indians  sent  our 
team  back  to  camp.  They  gave  Angus  and  I  blankets  and 
moccasins,  and  we  put  them  on  and  went  down  to  see  Little 
Crow.    He  told  us  to  bring  our  folks  down  there,  and  no 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


183 


one  should  hurt  us.  This  was  Tuesday  evening,  about 
seven  o'clock,  lie  was  in  his  own  house,  and  the  camp  was 
pitched  around  it.  We  went  back  and  brought  our  folks 
down.  Little  Crow  put  us  up  in  the  top  room  of  the  house, 
and  gave  us  buffalo  robes  and  everytiiing  to  make  us  com- 
fortable, lie  brought  us  a  candle  as  soon  as  it  was  dai'k; 
he  was  very  kind  to  us;  he  said  he  would  take  as  good  care 
of  us  as  he  could,  but  he  didn't  believe  he  could  keep  Char- 
ley Blair  alive  until  morning,  lie  gave  him  a  breech  clout 
and  leggings,  which  he  put  on. 

During  the  night  an  Indian  or  a  half-breed  came  in 
the  room  downstairs  where  Crow  was,  and  told  him  that 
we  ought  to  be  killed.  We  overheard  what  they  said.  Tlie 
man  was  very  ugly,  and  said  no  prisoners  ought  to  be 
taken,  and  that  we  were  related  to  the  Sissetons,  and  had 
no  claim  on  the  Lower  Indians,  and  there  was  no  reason 
why  we  should  be  spared,  lie  said  he  wanted  Crow  to  call 
a  council  about  it  immediately.  Crow  told  him  that  he 
saved  us  because  we  were  his  friends,  and  that  he  wouhl 
protect  us;  that  it  was  too  late  to  hold  a  council  that  night, 
and  he  compelled  him  to  leave. 

lie  gave  us  plenty  to  eat,  and  came  up  several  times 
during  the  night  to  see  how  we  were  getting  along.  We 
begged  him  to  let  Charley  Blair  go.  lie  said  he  couhln't; 
that  the  Indians  knew  he  was  there,  and  would  kill  him 
(Crow)  if  he  allowed  it.  We  coaxed  him  for  a  couple  of 
hours,  when  he  consented,  and  brought  an  Indian,  who 
took  diarley  down  to  the  river  and  left  him  in  the  brush. 
He  made  his  escape  from  there  to  the  fort.  Crow  told  us 
not  to  say  anything  about  it,  for  the  Indians  would  kill 
him,  and  that  ho  did  it  because  he  had  known  our  folks 
so  long.    lie  said  the  young  men  started  the  massacre,  and 


! 


,.f 


1^1 


■I  ': 


'^' 


■„  It  ! 


'        *«,   Lfct-  1 


"F^PS^ 


•»#4» 


1^4 


M*1NNES0TA  MASSACRE— 186t 


he  could  not  stop  them.  A  week  after  that  Akipii,  an 
Upper  Indian,  came  down  from  the  Yellow  Medicine 
Agency  and  took  us  up  with  him.  From  that  time  until  our 
deliverance  we  remained  with  our  relatives,  and  were  well 
treated  by  them." 

The  foregoing  recital  is  just  as  the  boy  gave  it,  and  in 
subsequent  conversations  with  the  father  it  was  substan- 
tially verified.  ^ 

Major  Brown,  after  recovering  his  family,  lived  for  a  few 
years,  and  did  much  toward  assisting  the  Government  in 
adjusting  the  many  claims  brought  against  it  by  persons 
who  had  suffered  so  much  at  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 
He  died  a  number  of  years  ago,  but  the  members  of  his 
family  live  and  are  much  respected  in  the  community  in 
which  they  live. 


MINNESOTA  MASSACkE—mt 


185 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


GOVERNOR  RAMSEY  AND  HOLE-IN-THE-DAY. 


Alexander  Ramsey,  of  Minnesota,  is  the  last  of  tlie  fa- 
mous coterie  of  war  governors;  a  band  that  will  bo  immor- 
tal. Ciirtin,  of  Pennsylvania;  Dix,  of  New  York;  Denni- 
son,  of  Ohio;  Morton,  of  Indiana;  Randall,  of  Wisconsin; 
Yates,  of  Illinois;  Blair,  of  Michigan;  Andrew,  of  Massa- 
chusetts; and  Kirkwood,  of  Iowa; — a  notable  group,  stal- 
wart, nigged  patriots  with  hearts  beating  as  one.  Compre- 
hending the  danger  that  menaced  the  nation,  confronted 
with  no  easy  task,  these  grand  old  stalwarts  pledged  their 
states  to  uphold,  with  men  and  money,  the  general  govern- 
ment. They  have  passed  away  honored  by  a  grateful  coun- 
try and  beloved  by  the  men  who  responded  to  their  call. 
Governor  Ramsey  alone  remains,  and  in  the  National  Grand 
Army  encampment  held  in  St.  Paul  in  189G  he  was  a  cen- 
tral figure.  Passed,  as  he  has,  beyond  the  allotted  time  of 
man,  measure  full  and  running  over,  he  saw  the  salvation 
of  his  country,  proud  of  the  part  Minnesota's  sons  took  in 
its  restoration,  and  proud  to  meet  them  after  the  smoke 
of  battle  had  cleared  away.  Governor  Ramsey,  being  in 
Washington  at  the  time  of  the  first  call  for  troops,  prompt  ly 
respondef!  in  person  to  the  President,  and  tendered  a  re^ri- 
ment  fron  Miimesota,  and  it  was  accepted;  and  it  was  the 


{     I 


S 


If 


■->. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (AAT-3) 


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I.I 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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186 


MINNEi^OTA   MAS1SACRE~1862. 


ffHf '■ 


Mm 


first  to  be  accepted.    He  immediately  telegraphed  to  Adju- 
tant   General    William    Henry    Acker   to   at    once   issue 


H0LE-IM-TIIB-DA7. 


a  call  for  one  regiment  of  three  months  men. 

The  companies  were  soon  filled  up,  and  Adjutn,nt-Gen- 


I; 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


187 


eral  Acker  was  commissioned  as  captain  of  Company  "C." 
He  was  afterwards  commissioned  as  captain  in  the  Six- 
teenth U.  S.  Infantry,  and  was  killed  at  Shiloh. 

Governor  Kamsey  was  elected  United  States  Senator  from 
Minnesota,  and  served  his  state  faithfully  and  well,  and 
was  at  one  time  Secretary  of  War.  At  this  writing  he  is 
hale  and  hearty,  honored  by  men  of  all  political  faith. 

Governor  liamsey's  part  in  the  Indian  trouble  was  more 
than  commissioning  oflicers  and  sending  men  to  the  fron- 
tier. 

The  Chippewas  were  in  a  turbulent  state  of  mind,  and 
Hole-in-the-Day,  their  chief,  did  not  seem  inclined  to 
soften  their  feelings  to  the  Government,  but  rather  en- 
couraged them  in  their  desire  to  break  their  compact.  He 
said  to  his  people  that  "we  had  all  we  could  manage,  with 
our  brethren  in  the  South,  and  if  they  pleased  to  combine 
with  the  Sioux,  their  power  could  not  be  resisted." 

This  surely  was  cause  for  alarm, — alarm  for  the  safety 
of  the  state,  and  it  required  strong  measures  to  curb  this 
uprising  among  these  Indians.  Commissioner  Dole  lost 
hope  of  successfully  meeting  the  demands  of  the  Indians, 
and  dispatched  a  messenger  to  Governor  Ramsey  asking 
him  to  hasten  to  his  relief.  The  Governor  lost  no  time, 
and  with  two  or  three  others  were  soon  on  the  way.  He 
did  not  go  with  an  army  carrying  banners,  but  quietly  and 
unostentatiously  met  the  Chippeway  chiefs,  and  soon  ad- 
justed all  difficulties. 

When  it  became  known  to  ITole-in-the-T)ay  that  General 
Sibley  had  an  overwhelming  force,  he  was  then  desirous  to 
befriend  the  state  and  assist  in  making  a  treaty  of  per- 
petual friendship  with  the  whites,  and  assist  them  in  fight- 
ing Little  Crow.    And  after  the  battle  of  W^ood  Lake  the 


'..     ! 


1"! 
i'   X 


188 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


Winnebagoes,  who  were  inclined  to  go  to  war  against  the 
"pale  faces,"  concluded  it  best  to  court  his  favor  and  pro- 
claim war  against  the  Sioux.  Prior  to  this,  all  the  tribes 
in  Wisconsin  had  sent  their  "wampums"  to  the  Winnebago 
chief,  and  a  council  of  war  had  been  fixed  for  the  28th  of 
September.  There  seemed  to  be  indications  that  an  un- 
friendly white  element  was  stirring  up  strife  among  all  our 
Indian  neighbors,  and  hence  the  impression  that  it  was 
emissaries  from  the  South  who  were  doing  it.  It  came 
from  high  authority  that  evidence  existed  to  show  that 
"the  Western  tribes  are  going  to  join  the  South."  It  was 
a  critical  moment  for  this  country.  Slavery  existed  yet, 
and  God's  hand  was  laying  heavily  upon  us.  Federal  re- 
verses and  Confederate  successes  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
North,  and  loyal  men  trembled,  while  the  copper-head 
came  forth  and,  with  an  exultant  hiss,  impeded  the  prog- 
ress of  the  Government  in  its  efforts  to  bring  about  an 
honorable  peace.  Under  these  depressing  conditions  Gov- 
ernor Ramsey,  to  whom  all  looked  with  so  much  solicitude, 
nerved  himself  to  bring  about  an  amicable  settlement  with 
the  Chippewas. 

In  three  days  from  the  time  of  departure,  Governor 
Ramsey  returned,  having  effected  a  settlement  of  all  mis- 
understandings on  September  15th,  1863. 

The  public  mind  was  relieved,  for  nearly  every  chief  of 
the  Nation  being  present  to  sign  this  treaty  of  peace,  all 
hostile  demonstrations  ceased,  and  they  evinced  their 
further  friendship  by  coming  to  St.  Paul  to  return  Gov- 
ernor Ramsey's  visit,  and  tender  their  services  to  General 
Pope  to  operate  against  the  Sioux. 

The  Governor  assured  them  he  was  pleased  to  know  they 
had  not  stained  their  hands  in  innocent  blood,  as  the  Sioux 


11 


1! 
1 1 


MINNEISOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


189 


had  done;— that  he  would  communicate  their  desire  to  join 
the  white  soldiers  to  the  big  chief,  General  Pope,  and  he 
would  send  for  them.  The  talk  they  had  with  the  Governor 
so  pleased  them  that  tliey  became  confidential  and  talka- 
tive. Their  responses  thus  far  had  been  grunts  and  "ho, 
hos,"  but  Chief  Berry  Hunter  said  the  words  they  Hstened 
to  "went  right  into  his  ears,  and  they  were  good,"  and 
although  he  was  an  old  man  he  had  not  lost  his  reason. 
That  they  had  come  down  to  show  their  white  brothers 
they  felt  very  friendly,  and  never  desired  to  have  any  other 
feeling  towards  them. 

Big  Dog,  another  of  their  noted  chiefs,  whose  hands 
were  very  red,  said  he  had  painted  them  purposely,  so  that 
if  he  should  kill  an  enemy  and  blood  got  on  his  hands  it 
would  not  stain  them. 

Governor  Ramsey  extended  them  an  invitation  to  ride 
in  the  "fire  wagon"  to  St.  Anthony  (now  East  Minneapolis). 

This  meant  that  he  would  take  them  on  the  train.  Kail- 
roading  in  Minnesota  at  this  time  was  new  to  the  white 
people,  and  the  beautiful  engines  were  objects  of  delight 
and  admiration  to  them,  and  more  so  to  the  Indians,  who 
were  much  interested  in  everything  they  saw  in  and  about 
the  locomotive,  and  they  expressed  great  wonder  at  the 
steam  whistle,  and  invariably  ducked  their  heads  as  its 
shrill  notes  broke  upon  their  ears.  They  did  not  wish  to 
appear  as  cowards,  but,  hke  white  soldiers  dodging  bullets 
after  they  had  passed,  so  they  inadvertently  would  "duck" 
when  the  whistle  blew,  and  afterward  have  a  hearty  laugh 
over  it, 


t 

<  \ 

■■  I, 

I 

If  I 


A  '■ 


':! 


K)0 


MINNEISOTA    MAiSSACRE—1862. 


CIIArTER     XXX. 


CHASKA— GEORGE  SPENCER— CHASKA'S  DEATH— THE 
"MOSCOW"  EXPEDITION. 


Cliaska  and  George  Spencer  were  great  friends,  and  there 
was  reason  for  it,  as  you  will  see.  It  was  in  Ueorge  Spen- 
cer's store  wliere  the  first  sJiot  was  fired,  and  lie  was  the 
victim.  lie  ran  ui)stairs,  but  the  Indians  surrounded  the 
place  and  threatened  to  burn  the  store,  which  they  prob- 
aljly  would  have  done  but  for  the  fact  they  wanted  the 
goods.  They  could  not  muster  courage  to  go  upstairs  to 
kill  him,  because  they  naturally  thought:  "What  would 
he  be  doing  while  we  are  trying  to  kill  him?" 

An  old  scpiaw  got  him  out  the  back  way  and  secreted 
him  in  her  tepee,  and  the  Indians  finally  burnt  the  build- 
ing, and  supposed  he  had  perished  in  the  flames.  The 
squaw  turned  him  over  to  Iiis  Indian  friend  Chaska,  and 
when  the  other  Indians,  who  supposed  he  was  dead  already, 
saw  him  quite  alive,  they  were  much  puzzled,  for  they 
had  no  inkling  of  his  escape. 

He  was  the  only  white  man  at  the  agency  who  did 
esca]ie,  and  can  attribute  it  to  the  friendly  ministration 
of  those  two  native  Americans,  Chaska  and  the  squaw.  It 
was  no  miraculous  esca])e,  but  a  plain  case  of  genuine 
friendship  toward  a  white  man  by  an  Indian.     An  Indian 


e 
c 
c 


c 

« 

ta 
> 

w 
tr. 

J» 

I*' 
O 
< 

t^ 

»-« 
N 

s 


! 


!!...Jtl 


i.M' 


i'l 


)   , 


ii 


u  < 


MINNESO  TA    MASS  A  CRE~186Q. 


103 


will  avenge  a  wrong—that  is  liis  nature.  It  is  born  in 
him,  and  it  cannot  be  blotted  out;  so,  too,  will  he  remember 
a  kindness  with  an  ecjiial  ilegree  of  ildelity,  and,  under 
any  and  all  circumstances,  will  "sticlv  closer  tlian  a  brother." 
Friend  Spencer  in  this  case  found  that  the  investment  he 
had  made  m  kindness  to  this  red  man  was  a  paying  one- 
it  came  in  good  time— his  life  was  surely  in  jeopardy,  and 
no  miracle,  but  a  failh.ful  Indian,  saved  him,  and  this  In- 
dian wa.s  Cliaska,  a  chief  whom  Little  (/row  had  depended 
npon  to  help  cany  on  the  war.  Ilis  friendship  for  Spencer 
was  great,  and  when  his  friend's  life  was  threatened,  lie 
with  a  double  shooter  in  his  hands  would  cry  out:  "Shoot 
if  you  like,  kill  him  if  you  will,  but  two  of  you  will  come 
out  of  your  saddles  if  you  do." 

Chaska  dressed  his  friend  in  Indian  garb  and  painted 
his  face.  It  became  necessary  to  kite  him  about,  first  in 
one  friendly  tepee  and  then  in  another,  so  that  the  spies 
could  not  keep  track  of  him.  I  remember  well  the  day 
I  spoke  with  him.  lie  had  been  wounded  and  was  suffer- 
ing from  this,  and  the  long  days  and  nights  of  anxiety  had 
told  on  him,  but  now  that  he  could  tlirow  all  this  off  he 
said  he  would  soon  be  on  the  speedy  round  to  complete 
recovery.  Chaska  was  faithful  to  his  friend  of  former 
years.  He  was  desirous  of  l)ecoming  a  wliite  man  so  far 
•as  he  could,  by  adopting  their  manners  and  customs  He 
came  to  see  General  Si])]ey  one  morning  in  liis  Indian  -arb 
and  the  General  said  to  him:  "I  am  not  pleased  to  seeN^ou' 
m  your  blanket." 

^^'Then  I  will  wear  it  no  more,"  was  his  replv.  He  washed 
off  the  paint  from  his  face,  trimmed  his  hair,  and  dressed 
as  a  citizen.  He  desired  to  live  in  a  house  rather  than  a 
.tepee  and  to  hay.e  his  childreji  attend  school.     This  was 


II 


li. 


194 


MINI^ESOIA  MASS  A  CilE—lS62. 


the  wish  of  all  the  friendly  Indians.  They  instituted  re- 
forms in  the  social  fabric,  and  in  marrying,  the  rite  was 
l)erformed  by  an  ordained  minister,  the  same  as  among 
their  white  brethren.  l*oor  Chaska,  I  remember  well  the 
night  he  died,  for  at  the  time  a  strong  suspicion  i)ointed 
toward  a  member  of  my  own  regiment,  who  was  a  clerk 
in  the  hospital  dei)artment,  and  their  never  was  a  doubt 
but  Chaska's  death  was  by  poison  administered  by  this 
man.  George  Spencer,  his  white  friend,  said  of  him:  "On 
the  second  day  of  our  return  from  the  Missouri,  we  rode 
along  talking  pleasantly  of  the  future,  he  telling  me  how 
he  would  like  to  be  situated  on  a  small  farm  of  land  near 
me,  and  congratulating  himself  that  his  trouble  was  over, 
and  that  he  would  soon  be  restored  to  the  bosom  of  his 
family.  Alas,  for  my  friend!  He  now  sleeps  tranquilly 
near  the  turbid  waters  of  the  Missouri,  under  the  shadow 
of  our  intrenchnunts.  Savage  though  he  was,  he  was  a 
noble  man!' 

The  night  nv?  died  he  had  gone  around  to  his  white 
friend's  tent,  where  he  was  always  welcome,  and  supped 
with  him  and  arranged  for  carrying  in  the  commissary 
wagon,  a  pack  of  furs  he  had  captured.  He  went  to  his 
quarters  after  taking  a  dose  of  medicine  and  was  soon 
taken  ill.  He  sent  for  his  white  comrade,  who  went  im- 
mediately to  his  bedside,  to  find  him  senseless,  dying.  In 
his  delirium  he  predicted  a  thunderstorm  that  would 
shake  the  earth  and  blind  the  people  the  day  he  was  put  in 
the  ground,  and  the  prediction  came  true.  He  did  not 
once  recognize  his  friend,  who  remained  with  him,  closing 
his  eyes  with  a  sorrowful  heart.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-two,  leaving  a  wife  and  two  interesting  children, 
lie  was  faithful  among  the  faithless. 


MINN  K  so  TA    MASS  A  (JHb:—1862. 


11>5 


The  Sentinel. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 


THE  "MOSCOW"  EXPEDITION. 


This  expedition,  well  named  "Moscow,"  will  be  remem- 
bered by  the  participants  so  long  as  tliey  live.  The  govern- 
ment had  decided  to  remove  all  the  Indians  to  Fort  Thomp- 
son, a  military  post  on  the  Missouri,  and  after  it  had  been 
done,  it  was  found  a  little  later  that  they  were  in  a  starving 
condition.  General  Pope  communicated  tbis  fact  to  the 
authorities  at  Washington,  and  that  the  Indian  agent  had 
applied  to  him  to  furnish  an  escort  for  a  supply  train,  that 
would  be  sent  from  Minnesota  rather  than  from  Sioux  City, 
Iowa.  Three  companies  were  designated  to  undertake  this 
perilous  journey,  and  placed  in  command  of  Captain  J.  C. 
Whitney,  of  the  Sixth  Minnesota.     It  was  impossible  to 


I' 


!  I 


■iSt^' 


Jl 


19G 


MrXNE:^0  TA   3fA  SSA  CUE— 1862 


hire  ieamstors  to  go,  so  an  olVcr  of  twonty-fivc  cents  per 
(liiy  was  made  to  the  soldiers  in  addition  to  their  $1;}  per 
month;  but  the  undertaking  was  too  hazardous  and  the 
oll'er  was  refused.  The  bid  was  raised  until  it  reached  $1.25 
per  day  extra,  when  a  few  soldiers  agreed  to  accept.  On 
the  Glh  day  of  Xoveniber  a  i)artial  start  was  made,  but  one 
delay  after  another  occurred  until  the  case  became  dcs- 
})erate,  and  the  teamsters  finally  got  two  dollars  a  day 
extra. 

The  fact  was,  the  soldiers  rebelled,  and  in  order  to  frus- 
trate the  plans  of  the  contractors  the  wagons  were  so  dis- 
abled that  it  was  impossible  to  move.  Colonel  Crooks,  of 
the  Sixth  Minnesota,  took  matters  in  hand  so  vigorously 
that  the  soldiers  knew  that  the  exi)edition  would  have  to 
move  at  all  hazards,  and  it  was  foolish  and  dangerous  to 
object  and  waste  any  more  time.  Several  arrests  of  mutin- 
ous soldiers  were  made,  but  upon  promises  of  better  con- 
duct they  were  released,  and  the  '^"Moscow"  expedition  was 
finally  and  fully  launched  on  the  20th  day  of  Xovcmber, 
1803.  The  undertaking  was  hazardous,  but  the  men  were 
supplied  with  the  best  of  Sibley  tents  and  blankets  in 
l»lenty.  Under  the  most  favorable  circumstances  it  was 
not  a  picnic,  but  barnng  the  stinging  cold  days  and  colder 
nights,  with  a  few  frozen  noses,  no  serious  mishap  overtook 
the  brave  soldier  boys  of  this  celebrated  ''^loscow"  expe- 
dition. 

The  return  march  was  by  way  of  Sioux  (*ity,  Iowa,  and 
the  first  post  in  Minnesota  was  reached  on  December  29th, 
18G3.  During  the  trip  the  command  encountered  severe 
storms  and  the  thermometer  at  times  fell  to  40  degrees 
below  zero — but  thirteen  dollars  a  month  in  depreciated 
currency  was  a  fair  compensation. 


;:] 


'     ' :  tl!' 


EM 


I   I!  r ! 

ft;-! 


r- 

'|:'l 

MINNESOTA  MASSACRE~m2. 


199 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 


CAMPAIGN    OF   1863— CAMP   POPE. 


In  October,   1862,,  General  John  Pope  had  informed 
General  Ilalleck  that  five  Minnesota  regiments  couhl  he 
sent  south  by  November  1,  hut  local  influences  were  at 
work  to  prevent  the  transfer  of  troops,  as  it  seemed  very 
hkely  that  hostihties  would  be  renewed  by  the  Indians 
again  m  the  spring,  and  tJie  demand  tliat  the  State  should 
be  fully  protected  against  these  roving  hands  was  acceded 
to,  and  orders  were  forthwith  issued  to  the  various  com- 
panies to  proceed  at  once  to  points  designated    on    the 
fron  ler  and  go  into  winter  quarters.    Kumors  were  afloat 
at  al   times,  but  tJiere  really  was  no  danger,  and  the  soldiers 
had  httle  to  do  but  attend  to  a  light  guard  duty  and  while 
away  the  tedious  hours  as  best  \h,y  could.     The  campaign 
of  18G3  was  planned  by  General  John  Pope,  and  General 
11.  II.  Sibley,  who  was  in  commaud  of  the  district  of  Min- 
nesota, with  headquarters  at  St.  Paul,  was  selected  to  com- 
mand  the  Minnesota  column,  and  General  Alfred  Sully 
o  c^ommand  the  column  that  was  to  proceed  up  the  west 
bank  of  the  Missoun. 

_  These  two  columns  were  to  co-operate  for  the  final  ex- 
tinction of  the  Indians;  but  the  low  water  of  the  Missouri 
prevented  the  plan  from  beiug  carried  out. 


1 


>;  ! 


200 


MINNESOTA  j\IASSACRE~1862. 


i 


The  rendezvous  of  the  Sibley  column  was  at  a  point 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Ked  Wood  Eiver,  and  twenty-five 
miles  above  Fort  Kidgely.  The  forces  comprising  the 
expedition  organizing  at  this  point  were  tlie  Sixth,  the 
Seventh  and  the  Tenth  llegiments  of  Minnesota  Infantry, 
under  Colonels  AVilliam  C*rooks,  WilUam  K.  jMarshall  and 
James  11.  Baker;  eight  pieces  of  artillery,  under  command 
of  Captain  John  Jones;  the  Mounted  Rangers,  under 
Colonel  McPhail;  Indian  scouts  and  other  small  detach- 
ments, which  brought  the  force  up  to  3,052  infantry,  800 
cavalry  and  14G  artillerymen. 

The  camp,  named  in  honor  of  General  John  Pope,  then 
in  command  of  the  Department  of  the  Northwest,  was 
situated  at  the  mouth  of  Red  Wood  River,  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  place  where  the  outbreak  was  inaugurated.  The 
various  regiments,  composed  of  infantry,  cavalry  and  artil- 
lery, rendezvoused  here.  Colonel  William  Crooks,  of  the 
Sixth  Minnesota,  was  in  temporary  command,  and  soon 
after  the  troops  began  to  assemble,  guard  mount,  company 
and  regimental  drills  were  the  order  of  the  day. 

The  land  upon  which  we  were  encamped  was  a  perfect 
level,  and  in  order  to  attain  better  disci j)]ine,  and  instruct 
the  men  in  works  of  defense,  a  complete  system  of  "sod 
breastworks  and  bastions  were  erected  about  the  camp,  of 
sufficient  width  to  admit  of  the  sentinels  being  placed  on 
the  top  of  them.  It  was  really  a  magnificent  piece  of 
engineering  and  reflected  credit  on  the  officer  in  command. 
1'lie  sentinels  were  instructed  to  "walk  the  beat"  all  in 
the  same  direction,  turn  about  at  the  same  time  and  retrace 
their  steps,  so  that  an  enemy  could  not  creep  in  between 
them.    This  was  done  to  instruct  the  men  in  guard  duty 


MlNNEiSOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


201 


and  keep  them  out  of  mischief,  for  there  really  was  no 
danger. 

On  the  9th  day  of  June,  18G3,  the  monotony  of  the  camp 
was  relieved  by  the  arrival  of  Oeneral  Sibley  and  his  staff. 
This  official  family  consisted  of  Captain  11.  C.  Olin,  A.  A. 
G.;  Captain  Forbes,  brigade  connnissary;  Captain  Atchin- 
son,  ordnance  officer;  Captain  Edward  L.  Corning,  brigade 
commissary;  Captain  Kimball,  A.  Q.  M.;  First  Lieutenants 
Douglas  Pope,  ¥.  J.  H.  Beaver,  Joseph  R.  Putnam  and 
Charles  H.  Flandreau,  aides-de-camp,  and  Rev.  S.  R.  Riggs, 
brigade  chaplain. 

The  cannon,  placed  across  the  river  on  the  high  bluff, 
boomed  forth  the  intelligence  that  the  cavalcade  of  bril- 
liantly uniformed  officers  was  approaching,  and  the  General 
doffed  his  hat  in  salute  as  he  rode  down  the  long  line  of 
soldiers  w4io  stood  at  "present  arms."  General  Henry  H. 
Sibley,  who  had  gained  the  confidence  and  universal  respect 
and  love  of  the  soldiers,  was  again  with  us. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  he  received  the  sad  intelligence  of 
a  beloved  daughter's  death.  But  the  responsibilities  rest- 
ing upon  him  would  not  admit  of  days  of  mourning;  there 
was  no  time  for  communion  with  grief;  the  needs  of  the 
hour  reminded  liim  of  his  duty. 

While  lying  at  Camp  Pope,  General  Sibley  heard  that  a 
party  of  Indians  were  on  their  way  down  to  the  settlements, 
and  would  cross  Red  Wood  River  at  a  certain  point  the 
next  night.  He  at  once  gave  orders  that  my  own  company, 
the  one  that  had  sustained  such  losses  at  Birch  Coolie, 
should  proceed  at  once  to  watch  for  and  intercept  this  band. 
We  received  the  orders  at  midnigiit,  and  with  three  days' 
rations,  and  sixty  rounds  of  ammunition,  started  out  on 
our  mission  in  charge  of  First  Lieutenant  Harry  J.  Gill- 


i  ] 


202 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


w. 


hams.  We  had  no  doctor  with  us;  no  team;  not  even  an 
anibiUance.  I  never  thought  our  General  knew  of  this, 
for  he  was  a  very  careful  man,  and  the  question  with  me 
was:  "If  we  are  attacked  and  meet  with  losses  in  killed 
or  wounded  what  sliall  we  do  with  them  in  the  absence  of 
any  means  of  transpoi-tation?" 

We  arrived  at  the  point  designated  the  next  day  about 
noon  and  halted.  There  was  no  going  into  camp,  for  we 
had  no  tents.  We  simply  halted  and  waited  for  night  and 
Indians.  I  was  in  ho})es  that  the  Indians  would  not  come, 
and  I  got  my  wish.  There  were  others  hoping  they  would 
come,  and  among  those  most  desirous  for  them  to  make 
their  appearance  were  our  three  full  blooded  Indian  sol- 
diers we  had  captured,  and  who  were  present  at  the  various 
battles  the  year  before.  One  of  them,  Joe  Alord,  a  power- 
ful fellow,  claimed  to  have  a  grudge  against  his  own  people. 
He  said  they  had  always  treated  him  badly,  and  he  wanted 
to  fight  them,  but  I  w»s  a  little  suspicious  of  him — did  not 
think  him  sincere.  This  xilord  formed  a  strong  attach- 
ment for  me,  which  endured  until  he  was  finally  mustered 
out.  He  went  sotith  with  us  and  stood  the  climate,  and 
proved  himself  a  faithful  soldier.  I  at  one  time  saved  him 
from  death  bv  his  own  hands.  lie  had  been  punished  by 
the  Colonel  for  an  offense  of  which  he  said  he  was  not 
guilty.  I  think  myself  he  had  been  imposed  upon,  like 
"Old  Dog  Tray,"  by  getting  into  bad  company.  The 
Colonel,  as  a  punishment,  ordered  him  to  parade  up  and 
down  tlie  square  with  a  bag  of  sand  on  his  l^itck.  This 
was  galling  to  the  Indian,  and  calling  me  to  one  side,  ho 
said:  "Sergeant,  me  kill  me  mine  self;  me  kill  me  mine 
self!" 

I  tried  to  persuade  him  from  his  purpose,  but  he  seemed 


m 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862 


203 


determined  to  carry  out  his  threat,  and  I  wateliod  him 
closely.  I  could  see  he  was  very  much  aggrieved,  for  to  him 
the  humiliation  was  galling. 

He  grabbed  a  bayonet,  and  putting  it  to  his  breast,  at- 
tempted to  throw  the  weight  of  his  body  and  thus  push  it 
through  him.  I  jumped  and  kicked  it  from  under  him 
just  in  time  and  then  put  him  in  a  cell  until  he  became 
more  reconciled.  Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  he  en- 
listed in  the  regular  cavalry,  but  one  morning  he  was  miss- 
ing. He  had  deserted,  taking  his  horse  and  all  his  equip- 
ments with  him;  and  although  he  was  posted  as  a  deserter, 
he  w^as  not  heard  of  for  many  months. 

When  heard  from  it  was  to  the  effect  that  he  had  gone 
back  to  the  Indians,  taking  the  horse  and  all  plunder  with 
him.  The  old  grudge  against  him  was  rekindled  and  in- 
tensified on  account  of  the  course  he  pursued  against  his 
people  during  the  Sioux  war,  and  some  of  the  young  bucks, 
engaging  him  in  a  controversy,  it  resulted  in  his  death. 
The  Indian  soldier  Miller  was  inclined  to  be  pious.  He 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  afterwards  was  caught 
on  the  prairie  in  a  severe  thunder  storm,  from  which  he 
took  refuge  in  a  barn,  which  was  struck  by  lightning  and 
he  was  killed.  The  third  was  named  Walker.  At  the  out- 
break he  was  home  on  vacation  from  Bishop  Whipple's 
school  at  Faribault,  Minn.,  and  was  taken  prisoner.  I  have 
referred  to  these  Indian  soldiers  once  before.  Walker  was 
quite  well  educated  and  now  lives  ncir  St.  Paul. 

These  three  Indian  boys  were  with  us  on  this  midnight 
expedition,  and  T  felt  they  would  bear  watching,  because 
I  could  not  make  up  my  mind  to  the  fact  that  they  should 
want  to  so  suddenly  turn  against  their  own  people.  About 
midnight  the  second  night  an  incident  happened  that  gave 


204 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


t 


us  some  alarm  for  a  little  while.  We  were  all  on  duty 
watching  and  listening  for  Indians.  You  have  heard 
about  the  burnt  child  dreading  the  fire.  Well,  we  had 
been  seriously  burnt  at  Jiirch  Coolie,  and  did  not  relish 
anotlier  taste  of  the  same  sort  of  fire,  and  it  is  not  aston- 
ishing under  such  circumstances  how  many  Indian  sounds 
there  are  to  the  square  foot.  Every  minute  some  of  us 
heard  an  Indian  sound,  and  all  at  once  Joe  Alord  skipped 
out  in  the  darkness,  and  immediately  he  was  followed  by 
Miller.  I  at  once  thought  it  was  treachery,  and  the  same 
opinion  prevailed  among  nearly  all  the  boys.  I  was  but 
a  sergeant  then  and  of  course  could  not  assume  supreme 
authority.  If  I  had  been  in  command  I  should  have  held 
the  remaining  one  as  a  hostage.  He  wanted  to  go  after 
the  other  two  and  gained  the  consent  of  the  lieutenant  to 
do  so,  and  away  he  went  out  in  the  darkness.  I  expected 
soon  to  hear  the  crack  of  the  rifle,  for  I  felt  satisfied  that 
they  had  proved  false  to  us.  After  they  were  gone  half 
an  hour  and  returned  to  our  lines  with  the  news  that  the 
noise  they  heard  was  not  Indians  we  all  felt  relieved. 
.  But  the  half  hour  was  an  anxious  one,  and  we  were 
rejoiced  to  have  them  return.  The  Indians  we  were  sent 
out  to  intercept  did  not  appear,  and  the  next  day  our  little 
expedition  returned  to  camp. 


('•' 


1  ->  ' 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


205 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 


'FORWARD   MARCH.' 


On  the  IGth  day  of  June,  18G3,  with  the  thennomeler 
100  degrees  in  the  shade,  all  things  being  in  readiness,  the 
column  took  up  the  line  of  march  into  the  almost  unex- 
plored region  of  Dakota  Territory. 

This  invading  army  was  composed  of  nearly  five  thou- 
sand men,  with  a  pontoon  train,  and  an  adequate  ammuni- 
tion and  commissary  train  composed  of  225  four  and  six- 
mule  teams;  and  these,  with  the  troops,  really  made  a  for- 
midable army.  The  big  train,  five  miles  long,  was  necessary, 
because  the  expedition  was  headed  for  an  unknown  and 
hostile  country,  and  expected  to  traverse  a  territory  totally 
devoid  of  vegetables  of  any  sort,  and  game  would  probably 
be  very  scarce. 

The  force  was  well  organized,  and  the  appearance  of  the 
train  alone  would  awe  the  whole  Sioux  nation.  It  was  a 
season  of  drouth  such  as  was  never  before  known  in  the 
West.  The  prairies  were  literally  parched  up  with  the 
heat,  the  grass  was  burned  up,  and  the  sloughs  and  little 
streams  were  dry.  The  fierce  prairie  winds  were  like  the 
hot  siroccos  of  the  desert,  and  great  clouds  of  dust,  raised 
by  the  immense  column,  could  be  seen  for  miles  and  were 
viewed  in  wonder.     We  suffered  from  the  heat,  the  dust 


?  V 


l  '^. 


wm 


>  I 


206 


MINNESOTA    MASSACnE--1862. 


W: 


.•1  •' 
111 « . 


Eit  < 


and  the  weight  of  our  knapsacks,  n:iin  and  equipments,  fur 
the  lirst  day.  The  second  day  was  as  liot  and  diy,  but  tlie 
knapsacks  were  much  hgliler.  Any  one,  even  at  this  late 
date  and  so  far  removed  from  the  days,  of  tlie  war,  wlio 
thinks  that  a  soklier's  life  is  an  easy  one,  that  war  is  a 
picnic,  is  not  endowed  with  connnon  ''horse  sense."  x\iid 
yet  there  are  those  who  thus  express  themselves. 

Tlie  trains  were  soon  being  relieved  of  a  part  of  their 
load  by  us  drawing  rations,  and  we  had  transpoitation  to 
carry  our  individual  loads. 

I  cai'.not  in  the  few  pages  allotted  me  follow  the  daily 
march  of  General  Sibley  and  his  hosts;  but  will,  after  a 
hard  day's  march  of  eighteen  prairie  miles  (twenty-live  in 
God's  country),  with  heavy  knapsacks,  halt,  stack  arms, 
pitch  our  tents  and  direct  letters  from 

CA:\rP    SIBLEY, 

for  such  it  was  named,  in  honor  of  our  commander. 

The  General  had  decided  to  observe  Sunday  as  a  day 
of  rest,  deeming  it  necessary  for  the  welfare  of  man  and 
beast.  There  is  no  doubt  but  better  service  was  rendered 
for  so  doing,  and  General  Sibley  was  honored  for  this 
proper  respect  shown  the  Lord's  day. 

The  several  camps  were  named  after  the  officers  in  the 
command,  the  senior  ofTicers  taking  precedence;  first,  the 
colonels,  then  lieutenant-colonels,  etc.,  etc.  Nothing  of  an 
unusual  nature  other  than  a  prairie  fire  occurred  until  we 
reached  camp  Atchison,  wdiere  the  forces  were  divided, 
and  this  will  be  the  subject  of  a  future  chapter. 


^  'i  ;\'h  ' 


III '.  .Irl 

Jiiii 


li«lMR5i: 


T\     'i    •"'^'r.KliiWi'  I'"'" 


@f,:.:;i.*!,if,ii'"' 


) 


MINNESOTA  MASSACIi£:^i862, 


209 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 


BURNING    PRAIRIE-FIGHTING    FIRE. 


We  started  out  on  an  exploring  expedition  to  hunt  In- 
dians when  we  left  Camp  Pope.  On  the  prairies  ther. 
are  eneini^  ^^-t^  ^eat  and  L 

rhe  latter  is  a  most  formidable  weapon  with  the  Indian 
If  the  grass  is  plentiful  and  the  weather  dry,  and  they  can 
use^iUo  great  advantage  if  the  attacking  piky  is  not'c::! 

Our  sentinels  were  always  instructed  to  report  fire  at 
once,  no  matter  how  far  olT  it  might  appear  to  be.  Tl 's 
enemy  came  in  good  time-it  appeared  one  night  when 
there  was  a  high  wind. 

nvp?f'/'"'''-'^'''^'  ^'"'"'^^^  ^^"  ^^«*  «h^^t^  «^^eeping 
over  the  prairies-a  very  roaring  cataract  of  fire,  the  bil- 
lows of  which  reached  to  the  clouds.  Coming  on  at  this 
rapid,  relentless  rate,  it  would  envelop  and  destroy  the 
whole  command.  ^ 

To  arms!  to  arms!  we  are  called,  by  bugle  and  by  drum, 
and  m  face  of  this  enemy,  at  a  "double  quick,"  we  march 
out  to  meet  it.     In  case  of  fire  the  animals  are  frenzied 
and  It  was  a  question  at  one  time  whether  there  would  not 
be  a  stampede. 

The  only  way  to  conquer  this  sort  of  an  enemy  is  to 


>i  11 


•;'■ 


»»1  f\ 


MINNKSO  TA   MASS  A  (fIiL'--^1^62. 


I  'I 


fight  fire  with  iiro,  and  tliis  is  done  by  ])iirning  away  from 
you;  so  we  started  our  lire,  and  as  it  burned  away  from  us, 
we  took  possession  of  the  burnt  area  as  tlie  lire  denion  in 
the  rear  came  roaring  on  to  consume  us  in  his  liot  embrace. 
The  red  flames  roared  on  higli,  tlie  dense  sniol<e  ol)scured 
the  moon  and  the  stars,  the  atmosphere  was  stifling  and 
thick  witli  coal  black  dust,  and  the  roar,  as  the  fire  fiend 
rolled  on  towards  us,  would  have  struck  terror  to  the  stout- 
est heart  did  we  not  know  that  his  fury  would  soon  be 
spent. 


■,  I' 
ft  if 


MJNNESOTA   MASSAVHE^m2. 


211 


w 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 


DEATH  OF  LITTLE  CROW. 


We  Will  halt  the  column  for  a  little  and  hunt  in  another 
direction  for  Little  Crow.  He  liad  not  been  captured  and 
7ri  r'^  «"7^"^'^^r  after  the  battle  of  Wood  Lake  in 
18fi2.  Carried  away  with  tlie  idea  that  he  would  receive 
proper  recognition  and  the  confidence  of  the  Indians  lie 
started  away  towards  the  British  dominions.  Devil's  Lake 
was  always  a  favorite  "summer  resort"  for  the  Indians  and 
perhaps  we  can  find  him  there.  ' 

In  the  State  of  Dakota,  nearly  five  hundred  miles  west 
from  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  is  the  celebrated  Minnewakan    or 
DeviFs  Lake.     It  is  about  sixty-five  miles  in  length    and 
Its  waters  are  as  salt  as  are  those  of  the  ocean.     The  imme- 
diate shores  are  part  timber  and  part  prairie;   but  a  mile 
beyond,  the  country  is  one  vast  rolling  ])i-airie,  destitute  of 
trees,  and  dotted  over  with  little  lakes  of  salt  water.    This 
inland  sea  is  a  romantic  place,  and  is  well  filled  with  fish 
and  game  quite  plentifully  can  be  found  there.     Amou'^ 
other  things  are  sea  gulls  and  swan.    The  shore  of  the  lake 
is  covered  with  petrified  wood,  and  the  bones  of  fishes  and 
animals  are  in  abundance. 

To  this  neighborhood  Little  Crow  and  his  followers, 
after  the  defeat  at  Wood  Lake,  Minn.,  wended  their  way 


IP 


212 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE~mS. 


J  ■  •• 


1 

w. 

and  encamped,  where  they  were  joined  by  nearly  all  the 
Minnesota  Sioux  who  had  not  surrendered  or  been  cap- 
tured. There  were  in  ail  about  4,000  souls,  and  among 
them  were  Yanktonais.  During  the  winter  the  chief  sent 
out  runners  with  messages  and  presents  to  many  of  the 
Western  tribes,  and  endeavored  to  enlist  them  as  allies  in 
a  general  war. 

About  the  first  of  June  Little  Crow  went  to  St.  Joseph 
and  Fort  Garry  to  gain  recognition  from  the  British,  as 
well  as  to  obtain  ammunition,  but  both  were  refused  him. 

When  at  St.  Joseph  Little  Crow  had  on  a  black  coat 
with  velvet  collar,  a  lady's  fine  shawl  adorned  his  head, 
and  another  was  knotted  around  his  waist.  He  had  dis- 
carded his  rifle,  and  carried  a  pistol  instead,  which  latter 
was  one  of  his  trophies  from  the  last  summer's  raid.  He 
had  learned  of  the  deportation  of  his  friends  to  the  Mis- 
souri, of  which  the  white  residents  there  had  as  yet  received 
no  information.  Crow  received  the  news  in  advance  from 
an  Indian  who  had  outstripped  the  regular  mail.  He  and 
sixty  of  his  braves  had  a  war  dance,  after  which  he  made  a 
speech,  in  which  he  said  that  he  considered  himself  as  good 
as  dead,  but  that  he  still  had  plenty  of  warriors  upon  whom 
he  could  rely,  and  would  not  be  caught  during  the  summer. 
He  failed  to  get  the  recognition  he  thought  he  was  entitled 
to  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  Sioux  army  then  in  the 
field.  It  is  a  little  strange  that  he  could  not  be  recognized, 
when  cannibal  kings  from  the  islands  of  the  sea  can  get 
recognition,  and  the  devotees  of  royalty  will  tumble  over 
each  other  to  pay  their  respects  to  j,  lecherous,  murder- 
ous Turk. 

Being  disappointed  in  this,  he  made  up  his  mind  to  slip 
through  the  cordon  of  posts  that  had  been  established  for 


It  I  \ 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862.  213 

the  protection  of  the  people,  and  while  General  Sibley  with 
his  army  was  hunting  for  him  away  towards  the  Missouri, 
he  would,  single-handed  and  alone,  go  horse  stealing  down 
in  the  settlements. 

Alas!  How  are  the  mighty  fallen!  From  a  commander- 
in-chief,  seeking  recognition  of  a  foreign  nation,  he  at 
once  becomes  a  vagabond  horse  thief. 

His  son.  Crow,  Jr.,  was  his  only  confidant,  and  to  him 
he  said: 

"I  am  getting  old  and  cannot  fight  the  white  men,  but 
will  go  below,  steal  horses  from  them  for  you  children, 
so  you  may  be  comfortable,  and  then  I  can  go  away  where 
they  cannot  catch  me." 

The  whole  party  that  went  with  the  fallen  chief  num- 
bered sixteen  men  and  one  squaw. 

Crow,  Jr.,  whose  Indian  name  was  Wa-wi-nap-a  (one  who 
appeareth),  was  with  his  father  near  Hutchinson,  Minn., 
pi(^king  berries  to  "stay  their  stomachs,"  when  they  were 
discovered  by  a  Mr.  Lamson  and  his  son  Chauncey.  This 
was  Friday  evening,  July  3,  1863,  and  the  skirmish  that 
followed  between  Crow,  his  son,  and  the  Lamsons  pre- 
vented the  Sioux  chief  from  celebrating  the  Fourth  of 
July  in  any  sort  of  patriotic  manner,  for  two  shots  from 
the  trusty  rifle  of  Mr.  Lamson  sent  Crow's  soul  on  its 
eteiT'al  mission  to  the  happy  hunting  ground  of  his  fathers. 
Mr.  Lamson  and  his  son  were  out  in  the  country  and  they 
saw  two  Indians  picking  berrijs  in  an  "opening"  in  the 
woods.  The  Indians  did  not  discover  the  white  men,  who 
were  taking  aim  at  them.  Mr.  Lamson  had  crept  cautious- 
ly forward  among  the  vines  and  rested  his  gun  against  a 
tree  and  fired.     His  first  shot  took  efi'ect,  but  not  a  deadly 


'    St 


( 
■ 


'i    s 


"»■ 


214 


MINNESO  TA    MA  SSA  CRE~186Q. 


%\  'i 


i  't 


one,  as  evinced  by  the  loud  yell  of  his  victim,  who  fell  to 
the  ground  severely  wounded. 

With  prudence  and  caution  Mr.  Lamson  retreated  a 
short  distance,  where  he  could  obtain  shelter  from  behind 
some  bushes. 

The  wounded  Indian,  not  to  be  foiled,  crept  after  him, 
and  thus  they  were  brought  face  to  face.  Another  shot 
from  the  white  man  and  the  Indian  was  dead.  His  com- 
panions, his  own  son  and  another  Indian,  mounted  a  horse 
and  fled. 

The  Indian's  shot,  however,  had  not  gone  amiss,  for  it 
lodged  in  Mr.  Lamson's  shoulder,  and  he  being  some  dis- 
tance from  his  son,  was  supposed  by  him  to  be  killed.  The 
son  returned  to  town  to  give  the  alarm.  A  quick  response 
brought  men  to  the  scene  of  conflict,  where  they  found 
the  dead  Indian,  but  Mr.  Lamson  was  missing.  A  singular 
thing  about  it  was  that  Crow  was  laid  out,  his  head  resting 
on  his  rolled-up  coat,  and  he  had  a  new  pair  of  moccasins 
on.  It  would  appear  as  though  his  son  returned  to  make 
sure  of  his  father's  death,  and  finding  him  dead,  he  per- 
formed this  last  deed.  * 

Mr.  Lamson's  wound  was  a  severe  one,  but  he  made  his 
way  back  to  his  home,  which  he  reached  about  two  o'clock 
the  next  morning.  Little  Crow's  body  was  brought  to 
town,  and  the  coat  he  had  on  was  recognized  as  belonging 
to  a  man  who  had  been  found  murdered  some  weeks  before. 

The  body  of  this  murderous  old  chief,  after  it  lay  in  state 


♦Brown's  Valley,  Minn.,  Nov.  30.— Nathan  Lamson,  the  man 
who,  during  the  Indian  outbreak  in  Minnesota  in  1862,  killed 
Little  Crow,  the  famous  Sioux  chieftain,  died  to-day  on  his 
farm  across  the  line  in  South  Dakota,  aged  96. — [Chicago 
Times-Herald,  Dec.  1,  1896. 


\t 


01 

^  f 

C  ~ 

o     2 


i 


i 


i'  r.|) 


i 


Ik     i'^ 


Is. 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE~186^. 


217 


on  the  ground  for  a  day  or  two,  was  dumped  into  an  un- 
honored  grave,  and  no  tears  of  regret  were  shed  for  him. 
While  this  was  being  done  down  in  Minnesota,  a  miUtary 
train  five  miles  long  was  in  pursuit  of  him  up  in  Dakota; 
and  the  news  did  not  reach  General  Sibley  for  two  weeks. 
The  description  given  of  this  Indian  was  so  accurate  that 
the  General  said  it  was  no  other  than  Little  Crow.  This 
again  was  corroborated  by  his  son,  who  was  some  weeks 
after  captured  in  a  starving  condition. 
.  Thus  ended  the  ignominious  life  of  Little  Crow,  the  great 
Sioux  chief  who  had  influenced  his  people  to  believe  that 
the  time  had  come  for  them  to  reclaim  their  lost  empire. 


I 


■ 


218 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1S62, 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 


LITTLE   CROW,  JR.— HIS   CAPTURE. 


After  the  death  of  Crow,  senior,  as  narrated  in  the  pro- 
ceding  chapter,  his  son  and  heir,  Wo-wi-nap-a,  becomes  an 
important  character  in  this  chapter,  and  we  will  follow 
him  and  hear  what  he  has  to  say  about  his  father's  death. 

When  he  was  satisfied  that  his  father  was  dead  he  started 
off  he  knew  not  where.  lie  was  a  fugitive,  a  miserable  crea- 
ture, bereft  of  home,  country  and  parents — a  human  being 
without  a  country,  but  with  a  soul — in  a  land  where  every- 
hand  was  raised  against  him;  a  fugitive  from  an  enraged 
white  people  because  of  the  sins  of  his  father.  He  hid  by 
day  and  traveled  by  night  until  beyond  the  white  settle- 
ments, lie  was  captured  by  a  company  of  soldiers  who 
were  out  hunting  Indians  in  the  region  of  Devil's  Lake, 
Dakota.  When  captured  he  was  in  a  starving  condition 
and  glad  to  get  even  among  Uncle  Sam's  soldiers.  He  was 
questioned  as  to  his  father  and  where  he  had  been.  He 
said : 

"I  am  the  son  of  Little  Crow;  my  name  is  Wo-wi-nap-a, 
and  I  am  sixteen  years  old.  Father  said  he  was  getting 
old  and  wanted  me  to  go  with  him  to  carry  his  bundles. 
He  left  his  wives  and  other  children  behind.  There  were 
sixtecT^  'nen  and  one  squaw  in  the  party  that  went  below 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


219 


with  us.  We  had  no  horses,  but  walked  all  the  way  down 
to  the  settlements.  Father  and  I  were  i)icking  red  berries 
near  Scattered  Lake  at  the  time  he  was  shot.  It  was  near 
night.  He  was  hit  the  first  time  in  the  side,  just  above  the 
hip.  Ilis  gun  and  mine  were  lying  on  the  ground.  He 
took  up  my  gun  and  fired  it  Ih'sl,  and  then  lired  his  own. 
He  was  shot  the  second  time  while  firing  his  own  gun. 
The  ball  struck  the  stock  of  the  gun  and  then  hit  him  in 
the  side  near  the  shoulder.  This  was  the  shot  that  killed 
him.  He  told  me  that  he  was  killed  and  asked  me  for 
water,  which  I  gave  him.  He  died  immediately  after. 
When  I  heard  the  first  shot  fired  1  laid  down  and  the  man 
did  not  see  me  before  father  was  killed. 

"A  short  time  before  father  was  killed  an  Indian  named 
Hi-a-ka,  who  married  the  daughter  of  my  father's  second 
wife,  came  to  him.  He  had  a  horse  with  him,  also  a  gray- 
colored  blanket  that  he  had  taken  from  a  man  whom  he 
had  killed,  to  the  north  of  where  father  was  killed.  He 
gave  the  coat  to  my  father,  telling  him  that  he  would 
need  it  when  it  rained,  as  he  had  no  coat  with  him.  Hi-a-ka 
said  he  had  a  horse  now  and  was  going  north.  He  further 
said  thai  the  Indians  who  went  down  with  them  had 
separated,  and  he  had  not  seen  them  since." 

After  the  death  of  his  father  Young  Crow  took  both 
guns  and  started  for  Devil's  Lake.  He  had  no  ammunition, 
but  found  a  cartridge  and  cut  it  into  slugs.  With  this  he 
shot  a  wolf  and  ate  some  of  it.  His  strength  gave  out, 
and  twenty-six  days  after  his  father  was  killed  he  was  cap- 
tured. 

The  old  chief  was  a  great  wooer  of  the  fair  sex,  for  his 
son  said  of  him: 

"My  father  had  two  wives  before  he  took  my  mother; 


'•i 


fflf 


i20 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1662. 


the  first  one  had  one  son,  the  second  a  son  and  daughter; 
the  third  wife  was  my  mother.  After  taking  my  mother 
he  put  away  the  first  two;  he  had  seven  children  hy  my 
mother;  six  are  dead;  I  am  the  only  one  hving  now;  the 
fourth  wife  had  four  children  horn;  do  not  know  whether 
any  died  or  not;  two  were  boys,  two  were  girls;  the  fifth 
wife  had  five  children;  three  of  them  are  dead,  two  are 
living;  the  sixth  wife  had  three  children;  all  of  them  arc 
dead;  the  oldest  was  a  boy,  the  other  two  were  girls;  the 
last  four  wives  were  sisters." 

This  young  savage  was  cared  for  and  finally  sent  away 
to  the  reservation.  Having  found  the  whereabouts  of  Lit- 
tle Crow  and  disposed  of  him,  we  will  return  to  the  com- 
mand. 


MINNEi^OTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


221 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 


CAMP    ATCHISON— GEORGE    A.    BRACKETT'S    ADVEN- 
TURE—LIEUTENANT  FREEMAN'S   DEATH. 


Camp  Atchison  was  the  most  important  of  all  the  camps 
on  the  whole  route.  It  was  here  the  General  was  visited 
by  some  three  hundred  Chippewa  half-breeds,  led  by  a 
Catholic  priest  named  Father  Andre,  who  told  him  that 
the  Indians,  hearing  that  General  Sully,  who  was  march- 
ing up  the  west  side  of  the  Missouri  with  a  large  body  of 
troops,  was  delayed  on  account  of  low  water,  were  deflect- 
ing their  course  in  the  hope  of  being  reinforced  by  the 
Sioux  inhabiting  the  country  west  of  the  Missouri. 

The  General,  upon  becoming  satisfied  of  this,  decided 
to  push  on  as  rapidly  as  possible  after  them,  and  to  facili- 
tate the  movement  he  formed  a  permanent  post  at  Camp 
Atchison,  which  is  located  about  fifty  miles  southeast 
from  Devil's  Lake,  where  he  left  all  the  sick  and  broken- 
down  men,  and  a  large  portion  of  his  ponderous  train,  with 
a  suflicient  guard  to  protect  them  if  attacked.  With  these 
arrangements  completed,  the  column,  with  twenty-five 
days'  rations  for  1,500  infantry,  500  cavalry,  100  pioneers 
and  artillery,  started  by  forced  marches  to  overtake  the 
Indians  before  they  reached  the  Missouri  River. 

On  the  morning  of  July  20th  the  General,  with  his  se- 


■•> 


MINXESO  TA   MAtiiiA  CRE—1862. 


lectetl  men  and  reduced  train,  left  Camp  Atchison  to  pur- 
bue  the  Indians  and  en<jja<]jo  them  in  battk\  Attached  to  the 


expedition  in  the  capacity  of  contractor  was  Mr.  George  A. 
Brackett,  who  met  with  an  experience,  the  memory  of 
which  will  remain  with  him  during  his  life.  It  is  most 
interesting  and  exciting,  and  his  own  version  of  it,  as 
narrated  at  the  "camp  fire"  when  he  found  his  old  St. 
Anthony  friends  and  Captain  Chase's  company,  known  as 
the  "Pioneers,"  will  be  read  with  interest.  Mr.  Brackett 
says: 

On  the  fourth  day  out,  in  company  with  Lieutenant 
Ambrose  Freeman,  of  the  ^lounted  Rangers,  we  left  the 
main  colunm  for  the  purpose  of  adventure  and  game.  I 
had  my  train  started  and  in  good  hands,  and  got  permis- 
sion for  the  Lieutenant  to  accompany  me.  I^ive  miles 
away,  having  met  nothing  worthy  of  note,  we  surveyed  the 
country  from  the  summit  of  a  range  of  hills,  when  we  saw 
several  scouts  not  very  far  away.  We  struck  a  parallel 
course,  believing  we  were  moving  in  the  same  direction 
as  the  main  column.  While  watering  our  horses  in  the 
lake,  we  espied  two  other  scouts  on  the  opposite  side  doing 
the  same  thing.  AVe  then  moved  farther  on,  over  the  range 
of  bluffs,  covering  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile.  We 
followed  along  parallel,  or  perhaps  a  little  to  the  left  of 
the  main  body,  a  distance  of  three  miles.  Lieutenant 
Freeman  saw  three  antelopes,  an  old  one  and  two  young 
ones,  in  the  distance.  We  fired  and  wounded  the  old  one, 
who  made  off  around  the  bluff.  I  held  the  Lieutenant's 
horse  and  he  chased  her  on  foot,  which  took  us  off  our 
course  some  distance  round  the  bluffs.  We  traversed  a 
section  of  country  bordering  a  large  lake,  near  which  we 
succeeded  in  killing  the  antelope. 


1  i 


1! 


MINNESOTA   MASSAVHE~1862. 


223 


As  we  were  coming  down  to  the  lake  and  while  the 
Lieutenant  was  creeping  up  toward  the  antelope,  1  again 
saw  scouts  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake,  and  the  train 
was  in  sight  on  the  hillside  several  miles  distant.  Instead 
of  taking  our  course  back,  we  had  a  curiosity  to  go  around 
the  lake  to  where  we  saw  the  scouts.  On  our  way  around 
we  saw  cherry  bushes  newly  cut  and  piled  up,  and  I  set 
about  to  tear  them  down.  Lieutenant  Freeman  persisted 
in  saying  that  they  were  Indian  signs  and  that  Indians 
were  in  the  vicinity.  In  preparation  for  them  we  cocked 
our  rifles  and  made  around  the  bushes,  so  as  not  to  put 
ourselves  in  a  too  exposed  position.  We  took  our  course, 
as  we  supposed,  towards  the  train,  or  where  the  train  had 
recently  passed. 

Between  one  and  two  o'clock  we  discovered  three  objects 
a  long  distance  off,  but  between  us  and  the  train's  course, 
and  making  for  the  train.  This  action,  as  soon  as  we 
came  near  enough  to  judge,  convinced  us  that  they  were 
Indians,  yet  we  kept  on  toward  them,  and  they  were  mak- 
ing preparations  to  meet  us,  one  leading  and  the  other  two 
riding  their  horses.  We  got  all  ready  to  give  them  a  trial, 
they  creeping  around  on  one  side  of  the  bluff  and  we  creep- 
ing around  to  meet  them.  I  saw  one  with  a  straw  hat  on 
rise  up  and  recognized  him  as  one  of  our  scouts.  He  beck- 
oned us  to  come  towards  him.  From  all  the  description  I 
had  of  him  I  supposed  him  to  be  Chaska,  and  the  other 
two  were  full  blood  Sioux.  Both  had  government  horses, 
and  armed,  one  with  a  Springfield  and  the  other  a  carbine. 
I  asked  him  where  General  Sibley  was.  They  pointed  to 
a  hill,  I  should  judge,  three  miles  away  from  where  we 
stood,  in  the  direction  where  the  train  passed. 

I  saw  a  large  number  of  men  on  a  bluff,  judged  to  be 


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224 


MhVNES  0  TA   J/ J  .SSA  CnE—lS62. 


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about  two  hundred  in  number,  wlioni  I  supposed  to  be 
(Jeneral  Sibley's  men  loolving  tor  us.  We  all  started 
directly  for  them,  and  as  we  did  so,  saw  what  we  supposed 
to  be  a  guard  of  cavalry  starting  towards  us.  After  we 
had  started  the  scouts  tuined  to  a  Httle  lake  to  water  their 
horses,  but  the  Lieutenant  and  myself  having  previously 
watered  ours,  did  not  go  witli  tliem.  We  still  saw  the 
cavalry,  as  we  supposed,  about  fifteen  in  number,  coming 
towards  us. 

I  remarked  to  Lieutenant  Freeman  that  they  must  have 
turned  back,  as  they  had  disajjpeared  and  were  out  of 
sight.  We  were  soon  surprised,  however,  by  seeing  fifteen 
Indians  charging  upon  us  as  with  a  flag  of  truce;  but  they 
were  not  coming  evidently  in  a  friendly  spirit,  as  they 
fired  a  volley  upon  us.  I  yelled  to  the  scouts  that  they 
were  Indians,  and  remarked  to  Lieutenant  Freeman  that 
we  had  better  at  once  join  the  scouts,  which  we  endeavored 
to  do.  When  we  got  within  twenty  or  twenty-five  rods  of 
the  scouts  we  were  riding  about  three  rods  apart.  One 
Indian  rode  up  to  Lieutenant  Freeman  and  shot  an  arrow 
through  his  back,  on  the  left  side,  and  at  the  same  time 
another  Indian  dismounted  and  discharged  his  gun  at  me, 
but  I  laid  low  on  my  horse's  neck,  as  close  as  I  possibly 
could,  and  he  shot  over  me,  and  Chaska  stepped  up  to  the 
top  of  a  knoll  and  shot  this  same  Indian  who  had  fired  at 
me. 

As  Lieutenant  Freeman  dropped  from  his  horse  I  asked 
him  if  he  was  hurt.  He  replied,  "I  am  gone."  He  wished 
me  to  cut  a  piece  of  string  which  was  around  his  neck, 
and  supported  a  part  of  the  antelope  which  he  was  carry- 
ing. As  I  cut  the  string  he  changed  his  position  more  on 
his  side  and  more  up  hilL     He  asked  faintly  for  water^ 


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THE  MINNESOTA  MASSACRE  OF  1862. 

Price,  to  any  address,  J  60  Cents  in  Paper. 

I  $1.00  and  $1.50  in  Ooth. 

A,   IP.    CONNOLLY,    Chicago, 


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MINNESOTA  MaJSSACRE^1862. 


221 


which  I  gave  liim  liom  my  canteen,  and  by  this  time  the 
scouts  had  moiuittd  tiieir  horses  and  left  us.    The  Indians 
were  then  all  around  us,  and  one  at  the  side  of  the  lake; 
but  as  the  scouts  ran  toward  them  they  fell  back.     Lieu- 
tenant Freeman,  by  this  time  being  dead,  I  took  his  rifle 
and  revolver  and  followed  the  scouts  as  fast  as  I  could.  The 
Indians  mentioned  as  near  the  lake,  seeing  the  Li uc tenant's 
horse,  which  followed  me,  left  us  and  started  for  the  horse, 
tlius  enabling  me  to  overtake  the  scouts.    The  Indians  suc- 
ceeded in  catching  the  horse,  and  the  whole  crowd  again 
started  after  us.    We  rode  for  about  four  miles,  when  we 
were  overtaken  and  surrounded  by  them  by  the  side  of  a 
little  marsh.     We  al)  jumped  from  our  horses.    The  scouts 
made  motions  and  ran  up  to  meet  them,  but  Chaska  mo- 
tioned for  me  to  jump  into  the  tall  rushes  on  the  marsh. 
I  saw  nothing  more  of  the  scouts,  and  the  Indians  all 
rushed  down  to  where  the  horses  were.     I  cocked  my  rifle, 
and  lay  in  the  rushes  within  ten  feet  of  where  they  were, 
and  heard  them  quarrel  about  the  possession  of  the  horses. 
They  presently  settled  their  dispute  and  started  off,  for 
fear,  as  I  supposed,  of  being  overtaken  by  some  of  our 
forces.    They  took  their  course  around  the  marsh  in  which 
I  lay  for  an  hour;   this  was  about  three  p.  m.     A  shower 
came  up,  and  immedir.tely  after  it  cleared  I  started  on  my 
course,  with  the  sun  to  my  back,  and  traveled  for  two  hours. 
I  followed  this  direction  for  two  days,  stopping  in  marshes 
'faring  the  night.     On  the  evening  of  the  second  day  I 
struck  a  river  of  clear  water,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
wide,  running  in  a  southerly  direction.     Next  morning  I 
.stated  due  south,  and  traveled  until  almost  night,  when 
I  took  a  westerly  course,  coneludmg  that  the  trail  was  not 
in  that  direction;   traveled  a  little  to  north  of  west,  and 


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228 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


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struck  Gen.  Sibley's  trail  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day, 
about  twelve  miles  from  where  we  camped  the  night  before. 
I  left  the  main  column,  and  niade  the  deserted  camp  that 
night.  I  started  next  morning  on  the  back  track  for  Camp 
Atchison,  and  nuule  the  ])ainful  journey  in  two  days,  arriv- 
ing there  the  second  night,  I  jtween  eight  and  nine  o'clock, 
making  the  distance  of  the  four  camps  in  two  days,  bare- 
headed, barefooted  and  coat  less,  i  was  obliged  to  leave 
my  rifle  on  the  last  day  of  my  travel,  but  I  could  not  carr_> 
it  any  farther,  and  made  up  my  mind  that  this  would  prob- 
ably be  my  last  day.  11  was  i)r()bab!y  about  nine  o'clock, 
and  I  was  about  to  give  up  when  I  came  tc*  a  few  tents  and 
found  them  to  be  those  of  tlic  Pioneers  (Captain  Chase's 
company  of  the  Xintli  ^linnesota  Infantry),  and  fell  to  the 
ground  faint  and  unable  to  rise  again.  But,  thank  God! 
around  that  lire  were  sitting  some  of  my  old  St.  Anthony 
fri  ds,  who  kindly  picked  me  uj)  and  carried  me  to  my 
tent. 

I  lost  my  coat,  hat  and  knife  in  tne  (iglit  the  first  dav, 
so  I  took  Lieutenant  Freeman's  knife,  and  with  it  made 
moccasins  of  my  boot  legs,  as  my  boots  so  chafed  ray  feet 
in  wdking  that  I  could  not  ])ossi])ly  wear  them.  These 
improvisfnl  moccasins  Mere  constantly  getting  out  of  re- 
pair, and  my  knife  was  much  m'cded  to  keep  them  in  order 
for  use,  as  well  as  to  make  them  in  the  first  place.  ])ut 
Just  before  reaching  the  trail  of  the  exjji'dition  on  the  fifth 
day  I  lost  the  knife,  and  the  loss,  1  felt  at  the  time,  would 
have  decided  my  fate  if  [  had  much  farther  to  go.  lUit 
a  kind  J^'ovidence  was  in  my  favor,  foi-  almost  the  '^rst 
object  that  greeted  my  eyes  u])on  reaching  th<^  trail  w  s  a 
knife,  old  and  worn  to  be  sure,  but  juiceh'ss  to  uie.  This 
inci  lent  some  may  d(>em  a  mere  neeident.  but  let  such  a  one 


;ll 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


229 


be  placed  in  my  situation  at  that  time  and  he  would  feel 
with  me  that  it  was  given  in  answer  to  a  prayer  made  lo 
the  great  Giver  oi*  Good.  On  the  tliird  day,  about  ten 
miles  from  the  river  spoken  of,  1  left  Lieutenant  Freeman's 
rifle  on  the  prairie  because  i  became  too  weak  to  carry  it 
longer;  besides,  it  had  already  been  so  damaged  by  rain 
that  I  could  not  use  it.  I  wrote  ui)on  it  that  Lieutenant 
Freeman  had  been  killed,  and  named  the  course  I  was  then 
pursuing.  The  i)istol  I  retained  and  brought  with  me  to 
Camp  Atchison. 

While  wandering  I  lived  on  cherries,  roots,  birds'  eggs, 
young  birds  and  frogs,  caught  by  my  hands,  all  my  am- 
munition but  one  cartridge  having  been  spoiled  by  the 
rain  of  the  first  day.  That  cartridge  had  a  gutta  percha 
case  and  was  preserved.  It  was  my  only  hope  for  fire 
when  I  should  need  it,  or  when  I  dared  venture  to  make 
one.  I  had  also  some  water-proof  percussion  caps  in  my 
portmanteau,  which  were  also  put  to  good  use.  I  took 
one-half  the  powder  in  the  cartridge,  with  a  percussion 
cap,  and  with  the  use  of  my  pistol  and  some  dried  grass, 
started  a  fire  at  which  I  cooked  a  young  bird.  How  did  I 
catch  the  bird?  Well,  Providence  again  favored  me,  and 
as  I  was  lying  low  and  making  no  noise,  Ihe  bird  wandered 
so  near  that  by  firing  a  stick  I  liad  with  me  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  make  it  whirl  horizontally,  it  struck  the  bird 
on  the  side  of  the  head  and  broke  its  neck.  This  was  on 
the  second  night.  On  the  fourth  T  used  the  remainder  of 
tlie  cartridge  in  the  same  way  and  for  a  like  purpose.  The 
rest  of  the  time  T  ate  my  foot  uncooked.  Kxcept  some  hard 
bread  (found  at  the  fourth  camp  mentioned  above),  which 
had  been  fried  and  then  thrown  in  the  ashes.  T  have  for- 
gotten one  sweet  morsel   (and   all   wore  sweet  and  very 


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230 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


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palatable  to  me),  viz.,  some  sinews  spared  by  wolves  from 
a  buffalo  carcass.  As  near  as  1  am  able  to  judge  1  traveled 
in  the  seven  days  at  least  two  hundred  miles.  I  had  ample 
means  for  a  Uke  journey  in  civilized  localities,  but  for  the 
first  time  in  my  life  found  gold  and  silver  coin  not  legal 
tender.  My  boot-leg  moccasins  saved  me,  for  a  walk  of 
ten  miles  upon  such  a  prairie,  barefooted,  would  stop  all 
farther  progress  of  any  person  accustomed  to  wearing  cover- 
ing upon  the  feet.  The  exposure  at  night,  caused  more 
particularly  by  lying  in  low  and  wet  places,  in  order  to 
hide  myself,  was  m.c.  >  prostrating  to  me  than  scarcity  of 
food.  The  lonelinesr;  the  prairies  would  have  been 
terrible  in  itself,  but  foi  the  drove  of  wolves  that  after 
the  first  day  hovered,  in  the  day  time,  at  a  respectful  dis- 
tance, and  at  night  howled  closely  around  me,  seemingly 
sure  that  my  failing  strength  would  soon  render  me  an 
easy  prey.  But  a  merciful  Providence  has  spared  my  life 
by  what  seems  now,  even  to  myself,  almost  a  mira;;le. 

The  body  of  Lieutenant  Freeman  was  afterwards  found 
and  buried  by  members  of  General  Sibley's  main  force. 
An  arrow  had  pierced  his  breast,  and  the  tomahawk  and 
scalping  knife  had  left  bloody  traces  about  his  head.  He 
was  buried  on  the  desolate  plain,  five  hundred  miles  away 
from  his  beloved,  bereaved  wife  and  children.  After  the 
war  closed  his  body  was  exhumed,  carried  to  his  late  home, 
and  re-interred  by  loving  hands,  with  all  the  honors  due  a 
brave  soldier.  The  peculiar  circumstances  of  his  death, 
my  last  moments  with  him,  my  subsequent  days  of  weary, 
dangerous  wandering,  my  suffering,  anxiety  and  happy  de- 
Hverance  have  made  an  impression  upon  my  memory  so 
indelible  that  time  has  not,  nor  cannot  efface  them. 

My  friend  Brackett  and  myself  came  to  St.  Anthony, 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE—1862,  231 

Minn.,  on  the  same  day,  May  1st,  1857,  and  we  "put  up" 
at  the  same  hotel,  and  it  is  most  interesting  to  hear  him 
relate  this  wonderful  adventure  and  marvelous  escape.  He 
yet  lives  to  tell  the  story,  and  poor  Freeman!  It  seemed 
sad  to  leave  him  in  his  lonely  grave  on  the  prairie  wild, 
but  such  is  the  fate  of  war. 


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MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 186^. 


w ' ' 


CHAPTEK  XXXVIII. 


BATTLE  OF  BIG  MOUND. 


A  few  days  after  leavinj^^  Caiii]^  Atchison  scouts  began 
to  report  to  General  Sibley  that  Indians  in  large  numbers 
were  between  us  and  the  hills  beyond.  Kverythin<»-  indi- 
cated this,  and  the  evidences  were  that  we  were  soon  to 
have  a  battle. 

We  came  in  sight  of  the  Indians  every  day,  but  nothing 
decisive  until  July  Stth,  when  we  overtook  them.  Scouts 
reported  a  large  body  of  Indians,  with  Red  Plume  and 
Standing  Buffalo  among  them,  encamped  by  the  very 
lake  near  which  the  Cleneral  intended  camping.  Standing 
Buffalo  was  not  there  as  a  hostile,  and  it  was  a  surprise 
all  around.  The  (rcneral,  satisfying  himself  that  a  deter- 
mined resistance  would  be  offered  us,  corralled  his  train  and 
made  such  disj)osition  oj  the  troops  as  he  deemed  necessary. 
It  was  here  where  Dr.  Weiser,  of  the  First  Minnesota 
Rangers,  was  killed  while  parleying  with  a  delegation  from 
the  hostile  cam}),  and  it  was  treachery,  pure  and  simple. 
The  battle  was  o})ened  by  Whii)ple's  battery,  and  while  the 
cannon  boomed  and  sent  leaden  hail  and  death  among  the 
fleeing  Indians,  the  artillery  of  Heaven  opened  amid  a 
furious  thunder  storm,  and  a  private  of  Colonel  McPhail's 
command  was  killed. 


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MINNESOTA    MASSAVRE~1862. 


235 


The  Indians  in  this  affair  lost  eighty-seven  killed  and 
wcunded  and  a  vast  amount  of  property. 

A  portion  of  our  command  made  forty-six  miles  that 
day.  My  own  regiment  was  ordered  in  pursuit,  and  we 
followed  them  for  ten  miles,  after  having  already  marched 
eighteen.  An  order  had  been  sent  by  an  aide  for  the  pur- 
suing troops  to  bivouac  where  they  were,  but  being  misun- 
derstood, instead  of  camping,  as  it  was  intended,  we  re- 
turned, having  been  on  the  march  all  night.  As  we  came 
into  camp  we  found  that  an  early  reveille  had  been 
sounded,  and  the  troops  were  about  ready  to  march.  The 
part  of  the  command  that  had  joined  in  the  pursuit  and 
returned  during  the  night  was  so  completely  exhausted 
that  the  whole  force  was  compelled  to  rest  for  a  day.  This 
battle  was  a  decided  victory,  counting  heavily  in  the  scale 
of  advantage,  as  it  put  the  savages  on  the  run  to  a  place 
of  safety  and  materially  disabled  them  from  prose'^uting 
further  hostilities. 

After  the  battle  of  the  Big  Mound,  as  narrated,  the 
command  was  compelled  to  take  one  day's  rest  on  account 
of  the  over-taxed  condition  of  the  troops.  The  next  day 
we  marched  over  the  same  ground,  and  it  was  a  comical  yet 
interesting  sight  to  witness  the  wholesale  abandonment  of 
buffalo  robes,  camp  equippage  and  "jerked"  meat;  robes  by 
the  thousands  and  meat  by  the  tons  hr'^  been  thrown  away 
by  the  Indians  in  their  hurry  to  get  out  of  harm's  way. 
We  found  dogs  that  had  been  harnessed  up  and  loaded 
down  with  cooking  utensils,  dead; — they  had  died  from 
sheer  exhaustion.  The  prairies  as  far  as  the  eye  could  pen- 
etrate on  either  side  presented  this  condition  of  abandon- 
ment by  the  Indians,  of  their  property  and  winter's  supply 
of  food.    As  far  as  the  eye  could  penetrate  on  either  hand 


k 


'  <i 


I  I 


m 


ff  1 


I    ll»III»P|i^?^^»TTy 


236 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE~1862. 


•Ml  I 


Iv: 


were  evidences  of  their  hasty  lUght,  as  if  swept  with  the 
besom  of  God's  wrath.  The  Jiieii  would  "right  about"  and 
fight  the  sokliers,  and  then  turn,  and  running  towards  their 
fleeing  faniihes,  urge  them  to  still  greater  exertion  to  get 
away  from  the  avenging  army. 

In  the  sand  on  the  bank  of  the  lake,  1  found  a  tiny  pap- 
poose  moccasin,  and  could  see  tiie  imprint  and  count  each 
separate  toe  of  the  little  foot  in  the  sand,  as  it  probably 
was  dragged  along  by  the  anxious  luother,  who  was  too 
heavily  laden  to  carry  her  little  baby.  I  thought, — poor, 
helpless  child,  not  in  the  least  res])onsil)le  for  its  nn- 
hapi)y  condition,  and  yet  made  to  suffer.  So  with  all 
classes  of  God's  humanity; — the  innocent  too  often  made 
to  sutfer,  not  only  with  the  gnilty,  but  for  the  guilty,  and 
in  our  decisions  we  should  be  careful  lest  we  injure  inno- 
cent persons.  The  fresh  made  graves  we  found  on  this 
trail  told  their  sorrowful  story, — the  little  Indian  spirit  had 
taken  its  tiight, — the  body  was  buried  and  the  heart-broken 
mother  hurried  on  to  keep  up  with  her  people,  and  get 
away  from  the  army. 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE-.1862. 


237 


fv      <'.^    7^ 

Ready  to  Go  Fnto  Action. 


'1i 


CHAPTEK  XXXIX. 


BATTLE  OF  DEAD  BUFFALO  LAKE. 


After  the  decisive  battle  of  the  Bi^r  Mound  the  Indians 
made  up  their  minds  evidently  that  the  army  and  destruc- 
tion was  in  their  rear,  and  tlieir  Rubicon  must  be  reached 
and  crossed  or  annihilation  was  their  portion,  hence  activ- 
ity was  apparent  among  them.  The  great  impediment  to 
their  active  work  in  the  field  and  hasty  flight  was  their 
families,  and  it  required  good  generalship  to  succssfully 
manage  this  retreating  host. 

The  next  decisive  engagement  with  them  was  fought  on 
July  SGth;    known  as  the  battle  of  "Dead  Buffalo  Lake," 


238 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


80  designated  from  tlie  fact  tliat  the  carcass  of  a  big  buf- 
falo was  found  on  its  shores. 

Tliis  (hiy  strict  orders  had  been  given  that  there  should 
bo  no  shooting  w  itiiin  the  lines.  This  was  made  necessary 
from  the  fact  of  a  soldier  having  been  wounded  the  day  be- 
fore from  the  careless  use  of  a  riHe  in  the  hands  of  a  com- 
rade. We  were  going  along  at  an  easy  jog,  wiien  all  at 
once  a  beautiful  deer  went  bounding  along.  lie  seemed 
terribly  frightened,  and  evidently  had  been  surprised  by  the 
skirmisiicrs  jiliead.  All  orders  were  forgotten,  and  a  gen- 
eral st{;in|)ede  was  made  for  this  beautiful  deer.  Siiots 
were  fired  after  him,  but  he  made  his  escape,  and  it  did 
seem  too  bad,  for  we  were  hungry  for  deer  meat.  The 
general  thought  we  had  met  the  Indians  again-,  and  aides 
were  sent  to  the  front,  with  orders  for  the  proper  dispo- 
sition of  the  troops.  As  the  Indians  were  known  to  be  in 
large  numbers  not  far  ahead,  the  General  was  pardoned  for 
his  surmises. 

We  passed  their  abandoned  camp  early  in  the  morning, 
but  about  noon  the  scouts  reported  a  large  body  of  Indians 
coming  down  upon  us  from  various  directions.  The  com- 
mand was  placed  in  line  of  battle,  and  soon  the  skirmish- 
ers, in  command  of  Colonel  William  Crooks,  opened  fire, 
supported  by  Lieutenant  Whipple's  six-pounder. 

The  savages  came  swooping  down  on  us,  and  it  seemed 
as  though  they  sprang  up  out  of  the  earth,  so  numerous 
were  they. 

There  were  those  among  them  who  knew  something 
of  the  tactics  of  war,  and  they  attempted  a  vigorous  flank 
movement  on  the  left  of  the  column,  which  was  promptly 
i?hecked  by  Captain  Taylor  and  his  mounted  Rangers. 
Another  determined  attack  was  made  which  was  hand- 


MINNEl^OTA  MA!Si^ACRE—1862. 


239 


somoly  rc'i)iilsL'(l  by  two  companies  of  tlie  Sixth  Minnesota, 
under  Colenel  Averill. 

A  i'unniii«^^  lire  was  kept  np  until  about  three  o'clock, 
when  a  bold  dash  was  made  to  stam[)ede  the  animals  which 
were  herded  on  the  bank  of  a  lake. 

This  attemi)t  was  promptly  met  and  defeated  by  Wil- 
son's and  Davy's  cavalry  and  six  companies  of  the  Sixth 
^linnesota,  under  ^lajor  AIcLaren.  The  Indians,  foiled  at 
all  points,  and  havinjij  sull'ered  serious  losses  in  killed  and 
wounded,  retired  from  the  field,  and  galloped  away  after 
their  families,  who,  a  few  miles  ahead,  were  hurrying 
on  towards  the  ^lissouri  river.  Our  animals  wore  so  jaded 
they  could  not  stand  a  forced  march.  The  reason  was  very 
apparent.  We  had  our  regular  rations,  while  the  horses 
and  mules  were  on  short  rations  on  account  of  the  hot 
weather  burning  up  the  grass,  a  ad,  besides,  the  alkali  water 
was  as  bad  for  beast  as  for  man. 

We  were  obliged  to  dig  wells  every  night  for  water  be- 
fore we  could  get  our  su])])er,  for  we  could  not  use  the  wa- 
ter from  the  alkali  lakes.  As  many  as  sixty  wells  were  dug 
in  a  night.  Think  of  it, — each  company  obliged  to  dig  a 
well  in  order  to  get  water  for  supper,  but  this  was  one  of 
the  daily  duties  of  the  soldier.  It  is  astonishing  how  the 
"boys  in  blue"  could  adapt  themselves  to  every  condition 
and  circumstance.  I  am  on  a  tender  spot  now, — "the  boys 
in  blue."  'Tis  true  times  are  changed;  a  few  of  us  are 
alive  yet,  and  perhaps  we  are  just  a  little  bit  "stuck  on  our- 
selves"; but,  "the  old  soldier,"  as  we  are  now  dubbed, 
cannot  forget  "the  boys  in  blue."  In  a  few  years  more  a 
new  generation  will  have  control  of  our  government,  but 
the  wonderful  years  from  1801  to  1865  will  not  be  forgot- 
ten.   If  we  do  not  give  our  government,  body  and  soul,  into 


li 


ri 


y^i 


240 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE~1862. 


the  hands  of  foreigners  who  cannot  speak  our  language  \'u 
is  possible  that  the  memory  of  the  "boys  in  blue"  will  re- 
main with  us  for  a  time  yet.  They  were  a  mighty  host 
then,  and  the  tramp,  tramp,  tramp  of  their  feet  as  they 
marched  to  defeat  and  victory  will  go  down  the  centuries; — 
but,  I  must  come  back  to  my  narrative. 


MINNESOTA   MAiSi^ACHE~.1862, 


241 


CHAPTER  XL. 

BATTLE  OF  STONY  LAKE-CAPTURE  OF  A  TETON- 
DEATH  OF  LIEUTENANT  BEAVER. 


On  the  morning  oJ'  .July  m\x,  just  as  the  eommand  was 
breciking  eanip  at  Ston.y  Lake,  we  were  attacked  by  Indians 
m  full  force.  ^    "uiaiis, 

General  Sibley  l,,,!  th.  ex,,editio„arv  forces  so  well  in 
Imnd  ,a  the  enemy  eoukl  „«(  possibly  ,]„  us  any  barm 
^Ve  hal  ed  but  a  mon.ent,  as  some  of  the  sonts  came  ridin. 
fur  ously  towards  ns,  followed  by  Indians  intent  on  their 
enpturc  The  boys  cheered  as  they  cau,e  within  our  line 
ihe  battery  was  ordered  to  the  front,  and  soon  threw  a 
^,dl  among  the  Indians,  wl,o  then  galloped  around  on  the 

"  bu  t1  '"T  ,"■  1'""'  ™'"^  i-'-'li^tely  upon  our 
n< .,  but,  the  »d,ole  column,  in  a  solid  square,  moved  on. 
The  engagement  took  place  on  the  prairie,  and  it  was  a 
beaut,ful  s,gbt  to  see  the  regularity 'with  which  th  Col- 
umn moved,  l-irst,  two  companies  „f  cavalrv  skirmisher' 
ind  at  a  proper  interval  two  companies  of  infantrv   the 

'jrht  and  left,  so  as  to  form  a  hollow  square.    I„  the  een- 
arlilW  ''''"■'  ^'■"''"'  '*'"'''  °*  ""  '"'^'-  '^"'l  'ho 


h 


242 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862 


The  teams  were  so  fixed  as  to  make  it  imposoible  to  get 
up  a  stampede.  The  Indians  resort  to  their  peculiar  tac- 
tics to  stampede  the  teams, — they  tried  it  to  its  fullest  ex- 
tent on  this  occasion,  but  without  avail.  They  did  not 
impede  our  progress  in  the  least,  and  as  the  column  moved 
right  along,  they  soon  gave  up  the  attempt,  and  we  pressed 
them  so  closely  they  allowed  the  killed  and  wounded  to 
fall  into  our  hands.  The  casualties  were  light,  because  the 
shells  that  were  thrown  among  them  did  but  little  damage. 

The  cavalry  in  this  case  was  effective,  and  crowded  the 
Indians,  as  tliey  charged  them  with  drawn  sabre. 

This  was  the  last  stand  the  Indians  made  in  a  body,  and 
they  hastened  on  towards  the  Missouri  river,  which  they 
finally  crossed  at  a  point  near  where  Bismarck,  North  Da- 
kota, now  stands.  They  made  a  determined  resistance,  and 
had  been  repulsed  in  three  successive  engagements,  and 
their  situation  was  critical  in  the  extreme, — the  victorious 
army  in  the  rear  and  the  Missouri  in  front. 

After  the  Indians  had  given  up  the  fight  and  had  ridden 
ahead  to  urge  their  families  on,  and  we  had  buried  the 
dead  and  cared  for  the  wounded,  we  pushed  on  after  them. 

A  young  Teton  chief,  who  was  out  on  a  tour  of  observa- 
tion, was  captured  by  some  of  the  cavalry,  and  the  circum- 
stances and  manner  in  which  it  was  done  are  interesting. 

Thousands  of  us  saw  the  strange  object,  but  the  men 
who  captured  him  were  the  more  interested  observers,  and 
the  narrator  says: 

"As  the  scouts  approached  it,  a  dark,  motionless  object 
was  seen  lying  upon  the  ground.  Coming  nearer,  some  one 
cried  out:  'It's  an  old  buffalo  robe';  but,  as  one  stooped  to 
pick  it  up,  it  sprang  from  the  earth  and  bounded  off  like 
a  deer,  arms  extended,  and  flying  swiftly,  in  a  zig-zag  man- 


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MINNESOTA    MASSACRE~m2.  245 

ner.  It  was  a  broad  mark  for  the  carbines,  but  where  in 
It  was  the  motive  power?  It  was  impossible  to  tell.  Some 
thirty  shots  were  lired,  all  hitting  the  .obe,  but  still  he 
kept  on  with  the  same  zig-zag  motion,  so  that  it  was  im- 
possible to  hit  him. 

"At  last  one  of  the  guides  reined  up  near  him  and,  plac- 
ing a  revolver  to  his  head,  fired,  but  he  dodged  and  escaped 
the  ball. 

"He  now  stopped,  dropped  the  robe,  and  threw  up  both 
hands,  in  token  of  surrender." 

The  robe  he  wore  was  literally  riddled  with  bullets,  but 
not  a  scratch  upon  the  body  of  the  Indian.  His  gallantry 
and  his  lordly  bearing  won  the  admiration  of  his  captors, 
and  placing  him  behind  one  of  the  scouts  thev  bore  him 
away  in  triumph,  and  presented  him  to  General  Sibley, 
to  whom  he  extended  his  hand  in  friendly  salute,  but 
which  was  declined  until  he  had  made  his  statement'  and 
assured  the  General  that  his  hands  were  not  stained'with 
innocent  blood.  Being  thus  convinced,  General  Sibley 
shook  him  by  the  hand,  and  they  became  friends.  He  be 
longed  to  the  Teton  band,  which  is  one  of  the  largest  di- 
visions of  the  Dakota  Nation.  They  lived  west'^of  the 
Missouri,  and  his  information  was  that  they  were  interested 
observers,  but  had  no  sympathy  with,  nor  taking  no  part  in, 
the  war. 

He  and  his  father,  who  was  one  of  the  liead  chiefs,  were 
out  on  a  visit  to  the  Yanktonians,  and,  learning  that  thev 
were  soon  to  have  a  fight  with  the  sold'ors.  his  curiosity 
prompted  him  to  go  as  an  observer.  His  curiosity  was 
satisfied,  and  he  retired  with  the  balance,  but  had  stopped 
in  a  clump  of  grass  to  allow  his  pony  to  graze.  While  here 
he  had  fallen  asleep,  and  the  pony  was  the  object  that 


\} 


mm 


ii 


246 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


first  attracted  the  attention  of  the  scouts,  wliich  resulted  in 
the  Indian's  capture,  as  above  narrated. 

He  was  a  prisoner  with  us  for  live  (hiys,  during  which 
time  he  was  treated  with  some  consideration  as  tlie  heir 
apparent  to  the  chieftainship  o^'  his  tribe.  He  was  about 
twenty  years  old;  a  fine  looking  fellow,  tall  and  athletic. 
He  became  strongly  attached  to  the  Ueneral  and  the  stall*. 

General  Sibley  afterwards  learned  of  this  Indian's  death. 
He  had  given  the  boy,  on  his  departure,  a  letter  to  his 
father,  commending  him  for  refusing  to  take  up  the  toma- 
hawk against  the  whites,  and  in  appreciation  of  this,  that 
he  had  kept  the  son  for  a  few  days  in  his  camp  and  then 
gave  him  his  liberty,  so  that  he  might  return  to  his  own 
people.  It  was  good*  ])olicy,  because  the  letter,  being  found 
in  his  possession,  indicated  to  the  Indians  that  General 
Sibley  was  not  responsible  for  his  death. 

A  few  days  after  his  departure,  a  party  of  miners,  who 
had  been  up  in  Idaho,  were  coming  down  the  Missouri 
river,  and  at  the  very  place  where  our  men  had  reached  the 
river  and  filled  their  canteens  the  Indians  were  Iving  in 
wait  for  the  descending  miners. 

The  young  Teton  desired  ])cace,  and  rushed  toward  them 
waving  General  Sibley's  letter  over  his  head.  They,  not 
understanding  his  signal,  shot  him  to  death,  when  they 
were  at  once  surrounded  by  the  exasperated  Indians,  and 
a  battle,  short  and  decisive,  was  fought,  and  every  man  of 
the  miners  was  killed,  but  not  before  twice  their  number 
of  Indians  had  shared  the  same  fate. 

This  was  another  sad  chapter  of  this  unholy  war. 

The  Indians  now  approached  the  river,  but,  owing  to  the 
thick  underbrush,  were  obliged  to  abandon  all  their  carts. 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE~18e2.  247 

—their  ponies  they  took  with  them,  but  their  winter'.  <un 
ply  of  meat  they  abandoned.  • 

Our  skirmish  hne  was  formed  at  three  paces,  but  eveji 
then  it  was  impossible  to  observe  a  line,  so  thick  were  the 
weeds  and  underbrush.  The  enemy  was  siohted,  and  an 
advance  ordered,  when  the  Hne  moved  forward,  and  aftor 
an  hour  of  hard  work,  we,  like  De  Soto,  when  he  discovered 
the  Mississippi,  gazed  in  admiration  on  its  ])rot()tvpe ,— the 
Missouri. 

After  having  for  weeks  drank  the  brackish  water  of  the 
prairie  lakes,   we  drank  from  this  sweet  though  turbid 
stream,  and  were  refreshed,  as  were  the  children  of  Israel 
who  partook  of  the  cool  water  from  the  stricken  rock 

While  drinking  and  wading  in  the  stream,  we  were  fired 
upon  from  the  opp-jsite  shore,  although  a  flag  of  truce  had 
been  raised.  The  Indians'  bullets  foil  short  of  their  mark, 
but  the  retreat  was  sounded,  and  we  marched  back  for  the 
open  prairie,  and  returned  to  our  camp,  which  was  situated 
on  a  beautiful  plateau  a  few  miles  below.  The  brush  was 
so  thick  that  the  Indians  were  obliged  to  abandon  all  of 
their  carts  and  camp  equipage,  with  thousands  of  buffalo 
robes,  and  tons  of  dried  meat.  The  rout  of  the  Indians 
and  destruction  of  property  was  complete. 

Our  casualties  were  very  light;  but,  among  the  killed 
was  Lieutenant  Beaver,  an  English  lord,  who  came  to  this 
country  to  engage  in  a  buffalo  hunt;  but,  upon  his  arrival, 
learning  of  the  Indian  outbreak,  tendered  his  services  to 
the  Government,  and  was  commissioned  a  lieutenant  on 
General  Sibley's  staff,  as  aide-de-camp.  He  had  been  sent 
by  General  Sibley  with  an  order  to  Colonel  Crooks,  who 
w\is  in  command  of  the  advance,  and,  on  his  return,  he  and 
his  beautiful  black  horse  were  killed. 


%i 


u 


248 


MINNESOTA   MASSACRE— 1862. 


I 
I 


I'i  • 


Colonel  Crooks  said  to  Lieutenant  Beaver  that  the  regi- 
ment would  return  as  soon  as  the  skirmishers  could  be  ral- 
lied, and  invited  him  to  remain  and  ride  with  him  back  to 
camp,  but  the  aide,  true  soldier  that  he  was,  felt  it  his 
duty  to  report  to  General  Sibley  at  once,  and  paid  the 
penalty. 

The  Indians,  some  at  least,  not  being  able  to  cross  the 
river,  were  in  hiding,  and  others  had  re-crossed,  and  were 
skulking  in  the  thick  brush,  waiting  for  a  chance  to  shoot 
with  arrows.  Lieutenant  Beaver  had  mistaken  the  path 
he  came  in  on,  and  took  one  that  led  him  on  to  some  of 
these  skulking  Indians,  and  he  thus  met  his  death. 

Colonel  Crooks  returned,  and  though  Lieutenant  Beaver 
messed  with  him,  his  tent  was  at  General  Sibley's  headquar- 
ters, and  his  absence  from  mess  was  not  noticed  until,  upon 
inquiry  at  the  General's  tent,  it  was  found  he  had  not 
reported.  The  sudden  disappearance  of  one  who  was  such 
a  general  favorite  cast  a  gloom  over  the  camp. 

As  soon  as  it  became  dark  fire  rockets  were  sent  up,  in 
hopes  that  if  he  was  wandering  away,  through  taking  a 
wrong  road,  he  might  be  guided  back  to  camp.  Iiie  early 
morning  found  us  astir,  for  a  detail  of  my  regiment  had 
been  made  to  reconnoiter  and  to  skirmish  clear  down  to  the 
bank  of  the  river,  in  order  to  gain  tidings  of  Lieutenant 
Beaver,  and,  also,  of  Private  Miller,  of  the  Sixth  Regi- 
ment, who  also  was  missing. 

The  reconnoissance  proved  succccsful,  and  both  bodies 
were  found,  as  well  as  the  body  of  the  lieutenant's  horse. 
Lieutenant  Beaver  had  evidently  made  a  desperate  fight 
for  his  life,  because  his  two  revolvers  were  empty,  and  the 
indications  were  that  he  had  made  more  than  one  of  the 
enemy  bite  the  dust. 


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MINNESOTA  MA!SSAVliE—1862. 


251 


The  bodies  were  brought  to  camp  and  prepared  for 
burial  in  the  trenches  on  opposite  sides  of  the  cam]),  and 
the  work  was  so  done  as  to  obhterate  all  signs  and  prevent 
the  Indians  from  locating  the  spots  and  desecrating  the 
graves.  The  service  was  touchingly  solemn,  and  many 
tears  were  shed,  as  we  thought  of  these  lonely  graves  so 
far  away  from  tlie  homes  of  the  Uving  relatives. 

Lieutenant  Beaver  had  friends  in  England  who  were 
abundantly  able  to  have  his  remains  disinterred  and  re- 
moved to  a  more  suitable  place  of  burial.  Money  was  sent 
out  from  England  for  this  purpose,  and  trusted  agents  sent 
up  to  the  Missouri  banks  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  back 
the  remains.  There  is  a  grave  at  Graceland,  in  St.  Paul, 
on  the  top  of  which  rests  a  slab  of  granite,  and  engraven  on 
this  are  the  words: 

"Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Lieutenant  F.  J.  H.  Beaver, 
who  died  July  28,  1863.    Peace  to  his  ashes." 

On  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  is  a  lonely  grave.  The 
winter's  storms  and  the  summer's  heat  have  come  and  gone. 
The  night  vigils  of  the  strange  birds  have  been  kept,  the 
requiem  of  gentle  breezes  has  been  sung  over  this  lonely 
grave.  Comrade  Nicholas  Miller,  private  of  Company  K, 
Sixth  Minnesota  Infantry  Volunteers,  sleeps  in  his  lonely 
bed,  and  "after  life's  fitful  fever  he  sleeps  well." 


1 

w 

■  1 

1 

i!ll 

A^ 

252 


MJNNBJSOTA  MAiSSACRE—1862, 


chaptp:r  xli. 


HOMEWARD  BOUND 


It 


We  remained  but  two  days  at  this  Missouri  camp,  when 
the  reveille  sounded  early  in  the  morning  of  August  1st, 
and  the  troops  were  astir.  We  were  a  long  way  from  home, 
and  on  short  rations;  and,  in  addition  to  this,  we  felt 
gome  anxiety  about  the  boys  we  left  at  Camp  Atchison, 
having  heard  nothing  from  them.  The  sun  was  very  hot 
the  day  we  left;  one  of  the  kind  the  boys  called  "muggy," — 
disagreeable  in  the  extreme.  At  dress  parade  the  night 
before,  we  received  the  com])liments  of  the  General  in  or- 
ders read,  announcing  that  the  pur])ose  of  the  expedition 
had  been  accomplished.  This  was,  of  course,  good  news 
to  us,  and  we  speculated  as  to  how  early  a  date  would  find 
us  taking  leave  of  this  far-away  camp. 

The  scouts  reported  to  the  (ieneral  that  Indians  had 
been  crossing  the  river  below  us  all  day  long,  and  the  indi- 
cations were  that  they  intended  to  make  an  attack  about 
midnight,  in  order  to  steal  our  teams.  With  this  infor- 
mation before  him,  General  Sibley  ordered  one-half  the 
command  out  on  guard,  and  the  balance  to  lay  on  their 
arms.  In  an  hour  or  so  another  order  came,  for  the  balance 
of  the  command  to  reinforce  the  guard,  because  there  surely 
would  be  an  attack,  and  it  did  comQ  about  twelve  o'clock; 


MINNESOTA    MASSACRE— 1862. 


253 


but  the  attempt  to  ea])ture  the  teams  miscarried;  for,  after 
a  few  shots,  the  Indians  retired.  Having  lost  nearly  all  of 
their  wagons  and  cured  meat,  they  were  in  a  desperate  con- 
dition, and  a  commissary  train  would  have  been  a  rich 
prize. 

On  the  morning  we  left  it  was  astonishing  how  quickly 
we  got  ready,  and  how  lonesome  the  canvas  city  looked 
after  the  bugle  sounded  "strike  tents."  We  marched  out 
this  fine  morning  with  our  banners  flying,  and  the  band 
playing  "The  Girl  I  Left  Behind  Me.'' 

There  were  no  regrets,  for  the  "beautiful  Indian  maiden" 
had  not  made  a  favorable  impression  on  us,  and  we  had  our 
own  little  families  at  home. 

The  Sixth  ^linnesota  was  in  the  rear,  and  we  were  hardly 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  camp  before  the  Indians  had  taken 
possession  and  commenced  firing  on  our  rear  guard.  The 
Colonel  gave  the  necessary  commands  to  bring  us  to  a 
"right  about,"  with  orders  to  "commence  firing."  The  or- 
ders came  in  quick  succession,  and  were  such  a  surprise  to 
the  Indians  that  they  took  to  their  heels  with  great  alacrity. 
They  hovered  about  us  during  all  the  day,  but  did  not  in 
the  least  retard  us  in  our  homeward  march.  We  were 
instructed  to  supply  ourselves  with  water  before  starting, 
because  we  must  march  eighteen  miles,  to  Apple  river  bend, 
before  we  could  get  a  fresh  supply. 

The  day  was  excessively  warm,  and  the  men  became 
thirsty;  but,  behold!  we  look  away,  and  a  beautiful  lake 
appears  before  us.  "Water!  water!"  cry  the  thirsty  men, 
and  our  canteens  were  soon  empty,  in  anticipation  of  re- 
filling them  from  the  bosom  of  this  beautiful  lake  before 
us.  We  march  and  thirst  again,  and  the  beautiful  lake 
seems  just  as  far  away. 


I 


^1' 

1-  n 


m 


254 


MINJ^ESOTA    MASSACRE— 1S62. 


'ill  i. 


"It's  two  miles  to  that  lake,"  says  one  thirst}'  soul.  We 
march  the  two  miles,  and  yet  are  two  miles  away,  and  the 
thirst  and  heat  are  intolerable. 

"Surely  that's  water,"  said  another,  "but  we  don't  ueem 
to  get  any  nearer  to  it.'"' 

We  marched  and  marched;  but  '"'e  must  be  in  a  valley, 
for  the  lake  is  out  of  sigiit. 

"When  we  get  over  the  ridge  we'll  see  the  beautiful 
lake,"  comes  from  some  one  in  the  ranks. 

We  got  over  the  ridge,  but  the  beautiful  lake,  in  all  its 
refreshing  loveliness,  had  vanished.  Had  it  evaporated,  or 
^id  it  sunk  into  the  ground?  Neither.  We  had  been  de- 
ceived,— it  was  a  mirage!  The  air  was  hot,  the  earth 
parched,  the  throats  dry,  the  canteens  empty,  and  we  were 
yet  eight  miles  from  water. 

Eight  long,  weary  miles  to  go  before  we  reach  the  bend 
in  Apple  river,  but  there  was  no  help  for  it,  and  we  bear  to 
it  with  our  soldier  load.  "Five  miles  farther,"  says  the 
scout,  and  our  hearts  almost  stop  beating,  we  are  so 
parched;  three  miles,  and  on  we  march;  only  one  mile 
more,  and  we  would  run  if  we  could.  We  reach  the  bank, 
and  the  Colonel  commands:  "Battalion,  halt!"  but  the 
refreshing  water  is  too  near,  and  the  famishing  men  make 
a  run  for  it,  and  do  not  stop  until  they  are  in  waist  d^ep, 
and  then  they  drink  to  their  fill  and  replenish  their  can- 
teens. 

On  our  return  march  we  passed  nearly  over  the  same 
ground  as  we  did  going  out.  We  passed  the  battlefield  of 
the  Big  Mound,  and  went  into  camp  by  the  lake  where 
lieutenant  Freeman  was  killed;  this  wa.s  on  the  4th  of 
August.  Tlie  next  day  our  scouts  reported  "Indians 
ahead," — a  false  alarm, — the   Indians  espied   were  half- 


;'*  1 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 186^. 


255 


breeds  bringing  us  mail  from  Camp  Atchison,  and  also  the 
news  that  George  A.  Brackett,  who  was  with  Lieutenant 
Freeman  when  he  was  killed,  had  made  his  way,  after 
weary  days  and  nights  of  wandering,  and  in  a  half-starved 
condition,  to  Camp  Atchison,  where  he  fell  among  friends. 

When  we  arrived  at  Camp  Atchison  it  took  but  a  day  to 
arrange  for  our  final  departure.  Lieutenant  Freeman's 
body  had  been  recovered  and  buried,  and  the  place  so 
marked  that  it  was  easily  found  afterwards,  when  the  body 
was  removed  ^.nd  taken  to  his  home  for  final  interment. 

We  drew  live  days'  rations  of  hard  tack  and  bacon,  and 
the  side  dishes  that  go  with  it;  just  what  they  were  I  can- 
not now  remember.  I  guess  the  dear  old  army  bean  was 
one  and  desiccated  vegetable  another;  anyway,  we  were 
not  troubled  with  the  gout  from  too  much  eating  of  rich 
food.  The  surgeons  made  proper  [)ro vision  for  the  trans- 
portation of  the  sick  by  placing  them  in  ambulances,  and  at 
an  early  hour  the  headquarters'  bugler  sounded  "strike 
tents,"  and  the  canvas  city  was  razed  to  the  ground; 
— Camp  Atchison  was  a  back  number. 

The  command  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Fort  Snell- 
ing,  where  we  expected  to  receive  orders  to  proceed  at  once 
to  Join  the  Union  Army  in  the  South.  We  were  a  jolly 
crowd,  and  the  march  seemed  but  a  pleasant  pastime;  we 
had  driven  the  enemy  out  of  the  country,  and,  save  the  first 
two  or  three  days  of  our  return  march,  lie  was  giving  us  no 
trouble.  We  made  good  time,  and  the  nearer  we  got  home 
the  shorter  the  miles  became. 

When  we  got  down  to  civilization  we  were  accorded  an 
ovation;  especially  was  this  the  case  at  Minneapolis,  where 
the  whole  city  turned  out  to  bid  us  welcome. 

We  arrived  at  Fort  Snelling  on  the  morning  of  Septem- 
ber 12th,  after  having  made  a  march  of  more  than  twelve 
hundred  miles; — and  thus  ended  the  campaign  of  1863. 


It 


t;:- 


ii 


MS!  . 


fJ;!'     'l 


256 


Mli\NJ!:SO TA   MASJSA  CRE-1S62. 


CHAPTEll  XLII. 


THE  CAMPAIGN  OF  1864. 


Mv  active  work  in  the  Sioux  Iiulinii  war  ended  in  the 
autumn  of  18(53,  and  the  regiment  went  South,  but  history 
has  made  me  famihar  with  tlie  campaign  of  18(54,  and  I 
thus  devote  space  to  it,  so  as  to  follow  the  troops  and  In- 
dians to  the  culmination  and  final  successful  closing  of  the 
greatest  Indian  war  of  modern  times. 

The  return  of  CJeneral  Sibley  from  the  Missouri  cam- 
paign of  18(53  did  not  end  the  Sioux  war,  because,  while 
the  Indians  had  been  defeated  in  five  ])itched  battles  in 
18(52  and  '(53,  yet  they  were  known  to  be  in  large  num- 
bers, ready  to  take  the  field  again  in  1801,  as  soon  as 
the  weather  would  i)ermit.  Such  being  the  case,  it  became 
necessary  to  organize  against  them. 

To  this  end  another  ex])edition  was  fitted  out  from  the 
Minnesota  side,  which  was  to  co-o])erate  with  General 
Sully  from  the  Missouri  side.  (General  Sully,  on  account 
of  the  low  stage  of  water  in  the  IVIissouri  in  18(53,  was 
unable  to  co-o])erate  with  (Jeneral  Si])l('y,  as  was  intended, 
and  on  August  1st,  18(53,  and  when  (Jeneral  Sibley's  order 
for  the  homeward  march  was  ])romulgated,  (Jeneral  Sully 
was  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  farther  down  the  river 
than  it  was  intended  ho  should  be.  This  was  the  reason  why 


i 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 186 


o 


257 


the  Indians  were  not  more  severely  whipped  than  they  were. 
It  would  have  been  suicidal  for  General  Sibley  to  have 
crossed  the  Missouri  river  at  this  time,  with  rations  and  am- 
munition as  scarce  as  they  were. 

The  Indians  took  advantage  of  the  situation  and  evinced 
a  determination  to  take  the  field  again.  A  cavalry  regi- 
ment had  been  authorized  by  the  War  Department  for  one 
year  and  for  frontier  service.  This  regiment  was  filled  to 
the  maximum,  and  placed  in  command  of  Colonel  R.  N. 
McLaren. 

A  battalion  had  been  raised  previous  to  this,  known 
as  Hatch's  battalion,  and  was  on  duty  near  Pembina,  and  by 
this  wise  provision  confidence  was  restored  in  this  part  of 
the  country. 

The  Indians  still  had  undisputed  possession  of  the  coun- 
try west  of  the  Missouri,  and,  although  they  may  have  been 
peaceable,  it  was  necessary  to  settle  the  question  perma- 
nently, and  place  them  on  their  reservations. 

The  plan  of  the  campaign  of  1864  was  very  similar  to 
that  of  the  year  previous,  excepting  in  the  matter  of  com- 
mand, the  two  columns, — the  one  from  the  Minnesota  side 
and  the  other  from  the  Missouri  side, — were  to  combine 
and  become  two  brigades,  under  the  command  of  General 

Sully. 

The  first  brigade  was  composed  of  Iowa  and  Kansas  in- 
fantry, and  they  eml)arked  at  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  and  pro- 
ceeded up  the  Missouri.  The  second  brigade  embraced  the 
Eighth  Minnesota  Infantry,  mounted  on  ponies.  Colonel  M. 
T.  Thomas  in  command;  the  Second  Minnesota  C^avalry, 
Colonel  McLaren;  and  the  Third  Minnesota  Battery,  Cap- 
tain John  Jones.  This  brigade  was  in  command  of  Colonel 
Thojiins,  and  left  Fort  Snelling  on  June  1st. 


SK 


I  ♦ 


u  I  I ; 


fl    I  'I 


A. 


;i'  ^ 


i;*  1 1 


i  •  i 


258 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE~1862. 


General  Sibley  and  staff  accompanied  this  brigade  of 
2,100  men  as  far  as  Fort  Ridgely,  where  he  gave  them  their 
final  orders. 

Colonel  Thomas,  who  considered  General  Sibley  a  man 
of  ability,  thought  him  too  cautious,  and,  in  response  to 
his  final  orders,  said:  "General,  I  am  going  to  hunt  for 
Indians;  if  they  will  hunt  for  and  find  me  it  will  save  a 
heap  of  trouble." 

It  was  a  beautiful  morning  on  June  5th,  and  as  the  first 
rays  of  the  morning  sun  flashed  the  full  light  of  day,  "boots 
and  saddles"  sounded  in  the  clear  tones  of  the  bugles,  and 
the  column,  headed  by  a  magnificent  band,  mounted  on 
milk  white  horses,  marched  out  to  the  tune  of  "The  Girl 
I  Left  Behind  Me." 

The  General  reviewed  the  column  as  it  passed,  and  after 
complimenting  the  appearance  of  the  soldiers  and  bidding 
good-bye  to  Colonel  Thomas  and  his  staff,  who  were  start- 
ing on  a  five  months'  campaign  beyond  the  bounds  of  civ- 
ilization, rode  back  to  the  fort. 

The  column  was  now  under  way,  and  day  after  day  the 
march  went  on,  in  solid  square,  so  organized  that  all  the 
Indians  in  North  America  could  not  disturb  it.  At  night 
the  square  closed  up,  so  as  to  ensure  greater  safety  and  re- 
duce guard  duty. 

The  column  moved  up  the  valley  of  the  Minnesota  river 
to  its  source,  and  then  took  a  westerly  course,  making  daily 
from  sixteen  to  twenty  miles,  resting  on  Sunday. 

The  scouts,  failing  to  find  even  signs  of  Indians,  the 
march  became  monotonous  until  the  valley  of  the  Missouri 
was  reached.  Here  was  found  General  Sully's  trail  of  the 
year  previous,  and  soon  some  of  his  scouts  came  ii.lo  camp 
and  reported  General  Sully  only  one  day's  march  away, 


1 


i  ,       I,  . ,  :> 


MMNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


259 


where  he  was  waiting  for  the  fleet  of  boats  on  which  were 
supplies  for  the  troops. 

The  monotony  of  the  daily  march  was  enlivened  by  the 
report  that  Indians  were  hovering  ai-ound,— they  came  to 
reconnoiter,  but  not  to  fight  yet.  This  of  itself  was  encour- 
aging, because  the  boys  began  to  think  they  would  not  even 
see  an  Indian;  but  there  was  fun  ahead,  as  we  shall  see  in 
the  next  chapter. 


I ' 


t 


[■•t 


260 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  BAD  LANDS. 


|:'{ 


General  Sully,  an  unpretentious  man,  with  clear  per- 
ception, appeared  to  know  where  the  Indians  were,  and 
what  they  would  do.  His  service  in  the  regular  army  pe- 
culiarly fitted  him  for  this  service,  and  this,  with  his  genial 
temperament,  made  him  an  agreeable  commander. 

The  hoats  were  unloaded,  the  command  supplied  with 
sixty  days'  rations  and  divested  of  all  surplus  clothing  and 
equipments,  made  ready  for  a  vigorous  march  after  In- 
dians. 

The  troops  were  reviev.  ed  by  the  commanding  officer, 
General  Sully,  who,  by  the  way,  was  at  one  time  Colonel 
of  the  First  Minnesota,  and  afterwards  promoted  to  Major- 
General  of  Volunteers  and  Brevet  Brigadier-General  of  the 
regular  army.  The  revi^  of  the  troops  constituted  the 
celebrating  the  Fourth  of  July,  1864. 

When  the  column  finally  moved,  which  was  on  July  19, 
it  marched  out  into  an  unknown  and  unexplored  country, 
from  the  white  man's  standpoint. 

AVhat  a  transformation, — then  unknown  and  unexplored, 
— no  highways,  no  railroads,  no  civilization, — to-day  the 
onward  march  of  our  race  has  left  its  imprint  by  railroads, 
beautiful  farms,  busy  cities,  busv  factories.  Christian  civili- 


1 1 


T!l 


I. 


fi!i 


m  i 


I  i 


IR 


Minnesota  AfAssACRE~i862.        263 

Mion,  education  and  the  "little  red  school  house  "  But 
I  am  anticiimting;  turn  back  the  leaves  and  we  are  again 
on  the  Knife  river,  and  we  snuff  a  battle,  for  the  Indians 
are  ahead  in  great  numbers. 

It  was  on  July  28th,  among  the  foothills  of  the  moun- 
tains, that  a  large  camp  of  Indians  was  found.  In  this  camp  ' 
were  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  ten  bands  of  hostile 
Sioux,  and  they  meant  business,  for  they  had  congregated 
here  for  the  express  purpose  of  cleaning  out  the  white  " 
soi  Uers,  and  they  felt  confident  they  could  do  it. 

Ihe  Indians,  on  their  horses,  were  stripi)ed  for  the  fray, 
and  began  leisurely  to  ride  in  line  of  battle  toward  tlic 
white  enemy.  When  within  rifle  shot,  the  soldiers  opened 
fire,  and  instantly  the  scene  was  changed.  The  bands  con- 
centrated, and,  uttering  their  war  cries,  they  dashed  at 
full  speed  on  our  hues,  firing,  and,  like  the  wind,  whirled 
to  the  rear,  loading  as  they  went,  when  they  would  again 
face  the  enemy,  and,  coming  within  gunshot,  fire  again! 

They  were  so  confident  of  success  that  they  did  not  at- 
tempt to  save  their  own  camp,  which  was  the  objective 
point  of  the  soldiers;  and  they  did  not  realize  their  d'anger- 
ous  position  until  they  found  that  their  terrific  onslaught 
on  our  lines  did  not  in  the  least  impede  the  progress  of  the 
troops. 

Soon  the  artillery  was  brought  up,  and  the  shells  were 
sent  thick  and  fast  among  them.  By  this  time  they  began 
to  realize  that  retreat  were  the  tactics  now. 

There  were  1,600  tepees  filled  with  women  and  children, 
with  the  usual  supply  of  dogs,— not  less  than  two  dogs  to 
a  tepee,  and  such  a  stampede. 

It  was  a  grand  sight  in  one  sense  and  sad  in  another. 
To  see  this  great,  moving  mass  of  10,000  or  12,000  souls. 


1 

i 


r 

[    : 

- 

264 


MINNESO  TA   MA  SSA  C RE— 1862. 


f 


In 


with  tlieir  camp  paraphernalia,  inchuling  dogs  and  ijonios, 
rushing  over  the  prairie;  the  tleeing  multitude  spread  out 
as  far  as  the  eye  coukl  reach  on  either  side,  rushing  on  in 
mad  liaste,  as  thougli  fleeing  from  the  city  of  destruction. 
It  was  the  sight  of  a  lifetime,  hut  sad  to  contem})hite  that 
the  sins  of  some  were  heing  showered  upon  tiie  heads  of 
the  innocent  women  and  children. 

The  loss  to  the  Indians  in  killed  was  estimated  at  100  to 
150;  the  wounded  they  carried  off  the  field.  The  dead 
were  huried  in  the  night  in  large  trenches,  the  earth  leveled 
off,  and  the  troo})s  marched  away. 

The  Indians  were  not  satisfied  with  the  result  of  this 
engagement;  they  naturally  would  not  be.  Tliey  claimed 
that  the  best  of  their  young  men  were  off  hunting  for  our 
troops  in  another  direction,  and  they  should  at  once  call 
them  in  and  give  battle  again. 

The  last  six  days  had  been  very  exciting,  and  was  a  ner- 
vous strain  on  the  soldiers.  One  hundred  and  seventy-five 
miles  had  been  made,  a  battle  of  eight  hours  had  been 
fought,  and  the  camp  of  Indians  destroyed. 

The  march  to  the  west  was  resumed  over  the  prairie, 
with  the  Knife  ^Jountains  to  the  north  and  the  lUack  Hills 
to  the  south,  looming  \\\>  in  the  distance  like  great  sentinels, 
standing  to  contest  the  approach  of  civilization  and  defy- 
ing the  elements  of  ages. 

In  the  immediate  front,  off  towards  the  horizon,  was 
what  seemed  to  be  a  level  plain, — it  was  level,  but  for  a 
little  distance,  and  then  broke  to  your  view  what  might 
have  inspired  a  Dante  to  write  a  more  recent  edition  of 
Inferno;  for,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  north  and 
south  and  for  forty  miles  to  the  west,  the  body  of  the  earth 
had  been  rent  and  torn  asunder,  as  though  giant  demons, 


MJNmJSOrA  MASSACIiE~-mi\  265 

in  their  infurialod  dcfoat,  luul  soii^jit  to  (ILscnihoucl  tl,,. 
eartli. 

(kMirnil  Sully  said  of  il:  "U  in  l.dl  with  th"  li.v.  ,,,,1 
out/'  ' 

Wo  aiv  nou'  in  tl,e  i5ad  Lands,  and  it  is  Siindav,-il,(. 
Lord's  day,  and  in  such  a  rc^non,— wJicro  devils  liad  hnv^hi. 
A\  hite  men's  eyes  liad  i)rol)ah]y  never  hefore  seen  this*" re- 
gion, and  tlie  Indians  were  alia.'d  ol'  it;  tliey  looked  upon 
tliis  region  as  tlie  ahode  of  evil  spiiits,  and  'that  the  great 
gorges  and  buttes  and  yawning  ehasnis  were  but  the  i)rod- 
uet  of  their  wrath. 

The  Sunday  passed  (juielly  until  after  noon,  when  a  re- 
connoitering  party  returned  and  said  they  had  been  lired 
u])()n  by  Indians. 

About  five  o'clock  on  this  Sunday  General  Sully  changed 
the  i)osition  of  the  camp  and  went  four  miles  fartiier  u])  the 
river,  in  order  to  be  in  better  position  to  prevent  a  surprise 
or  repel  an  attack. 

The  Indians  were  interested  observers,  for  while  this 
move  was  being  made  1,000  of  them  were  ([uietly  sitting  on 
their  horses  on  the  surrounding  hills,  observing. 

General  Sully,  being  sick  in  his  tent  at  this  time,  the 
command  devolved  upon  Colonel  Thomas,  of  the  Kighth 
^linnesota,  and  to  him  he  gave  orders  to  ''have  everything 
ready  to  move  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  in  perfect 
fighting  order;  put  one  of  your  most  active  field  officers  in 
charge  of  a  strong  advance  guard,  and  you  will  meet  them 
at  the  head  of  the  ravine,  and  have  the  biggest  Indian  fight 
that  ever  will  ha])pen  on  this  continent;  and  let  me  fur- 
ther say  that  under  no  circumstances  must  any  man  turn 
his  back  on  a  live  Indian." 

On  ^londay  morning,  bright  and  early,  on  August  8th, 


Jf'  Ifi'  •in 


"  'l 

r|l 

,    , 

!.: 

||! 

■ 

2G6 


MINNKSO  r.  I    J/J  >S'.SM  C/iK—im. 


1J 


pi 


I 


1801,  the  I'oliiiiins  were  formed.  The  General  was  in  an 
ainbiiUuice  at  the  I'ront,  and  in  admiration  looking  up  and 
down  the  lines  ol"  the  soldiers  who  were  so  soon  to  engage 
the  Indians  in  battle,  gave  vent  to  his  feelings  in  words 
more  expressive  than  elegant:  ''Those  fellows  can  whip 
the  devil  and  all  his  angels." 

General  Sully  himself  was  unable  to  go  farther,  l)ut 
when  he  grasped  Colonel  Thomas,  who  was  in  immediate 
eommand,  by  the  hand  ho  said:  "You  must  make  some 
history  to-day." 

"Forward!"  and  the  column  is  marching  out,  and  not  a 
sound  is  there  to  indicate  that  its  progress  will  be  impeded, 
as  we  enter  the  narrow  gorge,  only  wide  enough  for  a  wagor 
trail.  Almost  an  hour  passes  in  steadily  climbing  up  the 
narrow  and  secluded  way,  and  when  near  the  head  of  the 
gulch,  from  the  beautiful  stillness  of  the  morning  the  pan- 
demonium of  war  broke  loose. 

The  artillery  advanced  in  a  gallop,  and,  in  position,  soon 
commenced  planting  shells  among  the  redskins.  This  was 
followed  up  by  the  steady  advance  of  the  dismounted  men, 
who  pressed  their  lines,  and  they  conunenced  to  fall  back. 
The  (Jeneral,  sick  though  he  was,  and  in  the  ambulance, 
could  not  endure  being  there  when  the  fight  was  going  on, 
so  he  ordered  up  his  horse  and,  mounting,  rode  to  the  front, 
but  nature  resisted,  and  he  was  obliged  to  dismount,  which 
he  did,  and  seating  himself  on  a  boulder,  with  his  field 
glass  took  in  the  whole  situation.  Colonel  Thomas,  who 
was  in  command,  hearing  that  the  General  was  on  the  field, 
sought  him  out  and  said:    "I  am  ready  to  advance,  sir." 

The  General,  pointing  his  hand  toward  a  range  of  hills, 
said:  "Go  ahead,  you  will  find  the  eamp  beyond  those 
buttes;    hold  vour  men  well  in  hand,  pusli  the  Indians; 


your 


pUi- 


1^' 


MmNE.SOrA   M ASS ACRi: --1862.  2G7 

they  will  fight  for  tlieir  families;  protect  your  flank   and  I 
will  protect  the  rear."' 

The  light  went  on;  the  u'ounded  were  sent  to  liie  rear 
and  for  twelve  miles  we  di-ove  the  Indians  from  point  t.i 
point,  hut  darkness  came  on  hefore  their  eamp  was  reached 
In  the  l)ivouac  at  night  the  scene  was  a  varied  one 
At  the  roll-call  there  were  names  not  answered  for  the 
unerring  arrow  and  Indian  hullet  had  done  its  work.  At 
the  next  muster  it  would  he  necessary  to  mark  after  some 
name:  "Killed  in  hattle  in  the  Had  Lands  August  8th, 
18()4,"  or,  "died  of  wounds  received  from  Indians  in  hattic 
in  fhe  Bad  Lands  August  8th,  18(34,"  for  there  were  101) 
killed  and  wounded  on  this  day. 

The  wounded  received  })roper  attention  at  once,  and  the 
other  soldiers,  well  tired  out  with  the  day's  fighting  and 
nuirching,  were  soundly  sleeping  and  dreaming  of  home. 

There  were  8,000  warriors  engaged  in  this  battle,  and  as 
nearly  as  could  he  estimated  they  lost  350  killed  and  from 
COO  to  800  wounded.  It  was  a  bloody  battle,  and  the  field 
was  named  by  the  Indians  Waps-chon-choka. 

The  Indians,  after  this  decisive  hattle,  broke  up  into 
small  bands  and  went  in  every  direction,  so  that  the  sol- 
diers, as  an  army,  could  not  well  follow  them. 

The  war  had  ended  so  far  as  the  Indians  were  concerned, 
but  there  was  another  fight  on  hand.  Had  water  and  lack 
of  rations  are  not  a  ha])])y  condition  of  affairs,  and  tiie  sol- 
diers had  to  look  this  square  in  the  face.  And  hot!  The 
tongues  of  some  of  the  men  were  so  swelled  from  thirst 
and  heat  that  they  could  not  talk.  The  animals  suffered 
equally  with  the  men,  and  in  numerous  instances  it  became 
-necessary  to  put  them  out  of  their  misery  by  blowing  out 
their  brains. 


p 

Iff 


!  1 
-111 


(,'•11 


2G3 


MIXXEJSOTA  MASSACRE~1862. 


And  thus  thinjT:s  went  on  from  day  to  day  until  August 
Vl{\\,  wlien  giad  news  (-auit'  from  one  ci"  llie  scouts,  who 
came  riding  back  and  frantically  waving  sometliing  in  his 
liands.  It  was  simi)ly  a  little  chip  of  wood,  and  why  should 
lliis  create  such  unlj(-)iinded  joy  among  a  lot  of  war-be- 
grimed veterans?  It  was  freshly  cut  and  evidently  came 
from  the  steamboa«  men,  as  it  was  borne  down  on  the 
bosom  of  the  cool  waters  of  the  longed-for  Yellowstone. 

The  weary  soldiers,  thirsting  and  starving,  viewed  this 
little  harbinger  of  i)lenty  with  delight,  and  their  strength 
began  to  return  as  they  increased  their  step  in  the  march 
toward  the  river. 

0,  (hat  beautiful  river:— "The  Xectar  of  the  Gods.'" 
How  life-inspiring  its  fluid,  as  discipline  was  forgotten  and 
joy  and  happy  shouts  took  the  i)lace  of  misery  in  the  com- 
mand. 

The  thirst  was  slaked,  :ind  now  for  .something  to  eat,  for 
soldiers,  poor  mortals,  get  very  hungry,  and  hov/  often  they 
longed  for  some  good  home-made  bread  and  sugar  and 
cream  for  coffee.  And  pies;  well,  our  mouths  used  to 
fairly  water  for  ])ies.  lUit,  on  this  especial  occasion,  almost 
anything  would  do,  for  the  boys  were  awfully  hungry,  and 
the  commissary  was  like  "Old  Mother  Hubbard's"  cup- 
board— eni[)ty. 

Tliere  were  tind»er  bottoms  a  little  \.ay  down  the  river 
full  of  elk  and  black-tailed  deer,  so  the  Indians  informed  us. 

A  detail  was  nuuh',  aiul  the  hunters  wert  out  in  search 
of  game,  and  before  night  ihey  returned  with  the  evidence 
of  their  day's  hunt  with.  them.  They  were  like  the  spies 
sent  out  in  Ih'hle  times,  who  came  back  huh'n  with  grapes, 
and  reported  that  the  country  which  they  had  explored 
was  rich,  and  flowed  with  milk  and  honey. 


MINNEISOTA  MASSACRE~1S62. 


2G9 


So,  too,  our  t^oldicr-luiiitcrs  said  tlio  Ijoltom  lands  were 
alive  with  elk  and  deer;  and,.b>'  the  next  night,  the  luscious 
ribs  and  steaks  were  sizzHng  in  the  blaze,  and  hunger  w  is 
being  appeased  as  well  as  the  thirst  had  been. 

The  war  being  practically  over,  the  several  commands 
returned  by  various  routes  to  the  points  from  whence  they 
came,  and  were  at  once  ordered  South  to  take  their  ])laces 
in  some  of  the  other  arndes.  The  campaigns  of  18()l>,  'G.3 
and  '()4  were  successfully  cirried  out,  and  we  will  recapit- 
ulate our  desires,  our  journeyings,  our  hopes  and  our  fears 
and  our  rejoicings  in  another  chapter,  and  bid  you  adieu. 


270 


MINNESOTA  MASSACRE— 1862. 


|.-! ' 


I'!  : 


Examining  tue  Colors  After  the  Campaign. 


CITAPTKR  XLIV. 


CONCLUSION. 


In  writing  this  narrative  my  mind  has  been  refreshed 
and  incidents  and  the  names  of  pers(»ns  ahnost  forq^otten 
come  to  me — tliey  press  on  my  memory, 

T  am  al)le  to  recall  many,  but  to  specify  them  would 
nnduly  lenf^thcn  this  book.  There  was  one  important 
character,  however,  whom  I  had  (|uitc  for<2^()tten  at  the 
proper  time,  and  in  this  concluding  chapter  must  make 
mention  of  him. 

Pierre  Bottineau  came  originally  from  the  Selkirk  set- 


MINN E  SOT  A   MASSACRE— 1862. 


271 


tlenient,  and  in  1837  made  a  claim  near  St.  Anthony  Falls. 

I  was  with  him  upon  the  plains  of  Dakota  in  1857,  and 
in  his  way  he  was  a  remarkable  man.  On  one  occasion 
the  party  got  lost  in  a  furious  storm  and  we  knew  that 
war  parties  of  Chippewas  were  roaming  over  the  prairie 
and  it  was  not  any  way  too  healthy  to  be  in  the  region  we 
supposed  we  were  wandering  in.  We  halted  to  hold  a 
council  and  Pierre  said:  "As  soon  as  the  stars  come  out 
I  can  locate/'  So  we  waited  and  waited  for  tlie  storm  to 
pass  over.  Tlie  night  was  pitchy  dark,  hut  in  time  the  stars 
came,  when  Pierre  laid  flat  down  on  the  ground,  face  up, 
and  for  perhaps  half  an  hour  surveyed  the  heavens  and 
located  our  wandering  feet.  We  were  soon  on  the  right 
trail  for  our  camp,  which  was  forty  or  fifty  miles  away. 

Pierre  was  one  of  General  Sibley's  principal  scouts  dur- 
ing the  several  campaigns  against  the  Indians  in  1862 
and  1863.  He  died  some  years  ago,  and  speaking  of  his 
death  reminds  me  of  others  prominent  in  these  military 
operations  who  have  gone  beyond  the  river. 

The  two  generals,  Sibley  and  Sully,  are  gone,  and  of 
the  field  and  staff,  I  can  recall  Colonel  John  T.  Averill, 
of  the  Sixth  Minnesota,  who  was,  after  the  war,  member 
of  Congress.  Adjutant  Snow  antl  Quartermasters  Carver 
and  Gilbert,  Colonels  Stephen  Miller  and  Wni.  R.  Mar- 
shall, both  honored  by  Minnesota  by  electing  them  to 
chief  executive — they,  with  Lieut.  Colonel  Bradley  and 
all  of  the  Seventh;  Colonel  Robert  X.  McLaren,  of  the 
Second  Cavalry,  and  Major  Hatch,  of  the  battalion  bear- 
ing his  nanu-,  and  Captain  John  Jones,  of  the  famous 
battery.  These  are  among  some  of  the  chiefs  who  have 
been  called. 

Among  the  line  of  officers  and  the  rank  and  file,  it 


I 


w 


M 


272 


MINN  E  SO  TA    MASS  A  CRE—1862. 


would  be  a  mighty  host,  and  it  saddens  my  heart  when 
I  think  of  them,  so  1  will  desist  and  conclude  by  remind- 
ing you  of  the  invitation  extended  and  briefly  recapitulate 
our  journeyings. 


KEADElv:  The  invitation  extended  to  you  to  accom- 
pany us  on  a  military  expedition  into  the  Indian  country 
has  been  aeeei)ted.  It  was  under  exciting  circumstances, 
when  the  whole  country  was  surcharged  with  alarm,  and 
for  good  cause. 

Tlie  Indians,  cruel,  relentless,  revengeful,  and  with  de- 
termination, were  murdering  innocent  men,  women  and 
children,  and  but  for  the  friendly  oflices  of  a  faithful  few, 
whose  hearts  were  whiter  than  their  skins,  the  death  list 
and  list  of  horrors  would  have  been  far  greater;  and  it  is 
for  these  few  we  speak  when  we  say  there  are  good  Indians 
other  than  dead  ones;  and  ^linnesota  could  not  do  a  more 
ai)propriate  thing  to-day  than  erect  a  monument  to  the 
memory  of  Old  IVtz,  Other  Day,  Shaska  and  others,  who 
risked  their  lives  to  save  their  white  friends  from  the  toma- 
hawk of  their  more  vengeful  brethren,  and  who  did  so 
much  to  alleviate  the  sulTeriiig^  and  to  relieve  the  anxiety 
of  the  caj)tive  prisoners. 

You  went  with  us  to  besieged  New  Ulm  and  Fort  Uidge- 
ly;  helped  bury  the  dead  at  Redwood;  marched  with  us 
and  went  \\\U\  camp  and  endured  the  thirty-six  hours  of 
anxiety  and  suflVring  at  iJircli  Coolie:  hel|)ed  bury  the 
dead  and  (arc  for  the  wounded  there;  returned  with  us  to 
Fort  liidgely:  took  i)art  in  the  battle  at  Wood  Lake,  where 
the  Indians  were  defeated;  shared  our  joys  when  we  lib- 
erated the  women  at  Camp  Release:  helped  arrest,  shackle 
and  guard  tlie  Indians;   witnessed  the  execution  of  thirty- 


MINNESOTA    MASSACR]^—1862. 


273 


eight  at  Mankato;  marched  across  with  tlie  "Moscow  Ex- 
pedition"; rendezvoused  with  us  at  Camp  Pope  in  1863; 
marched  and  fought  Indians  with  us  at  J3ig  Mound,  Dead 
Buffah)  Lake,  Ston}-  Lake  and  the  Missouri  Kiver.  Yoa 
mingled  your  tears  with  ours  over  Beaver's  and  Miner's 
graves,  as  we  left  them  in  their  loneliness  on  the  bank  of 
the  river;  i)articii)ated  in  and  rejoiced  with  us  all  the  way 
on  our  return,  took  part  in  the  campaign  of  18G4,  and  now, 
before  bidding  you  adieu,  one  question:    Are  you  satisfied? 


THE  END. 


